Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
Do you need help repairing your home? If you are a Des Plaines homeowner and meet low-income criteria (see chart below) and your home requires repair, you may qualify for a program to address various repairs. The City of Des Plaines manages three programs funded by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG).
The City of Des Plaines is classified as an entitlement community with a population of over 50,000, and receives an annual allocation of CDBG funding from HUD. With these funds, the City provides three programs for low-and moderate-income households to provide financial assistance for eligible home rehabilitation projects. The City has partnered with the Northwest Housing Partnership to assist homeowners through this process.
In previous years, the City has granted CDBG funds for the following programs:
- Home Rehabilitation Programs
- Financial Assistance for Public Service Programs
- Public Facilities and Infrastructure Improvement Programs/Capital Improvements
Current CDBG Programs
PY 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan Substantial Amendment
The City of Des Plaines invites citizens to comment on the draft amendment to the PY 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan. Each year, the City is eligible to receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Consolidated Plan provides a snapshot of the community’s current conditions and establishes long-term objectives, strategies, and goals to alleviate the needs of Des Plaines’ low and moderate-income population/areas and must be submitted every five (5) years.
Citizens are invited and encouraged to submit comments on the City's draft amendment to the Program Year (PY) 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan during the public comment period beginning Friday, September 18, 2026, and ending Monday, October 19, 2026. Complete copies of the draft amendment to the PY 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan will be available during the public comment period at www.desplainesil.gov/cdbg or by visiting the 5th floor of City Hall. Written comments may be submitted via email at zoning@desplainesil.gov or mailed to:
City of Des Plaines
Community and Economic Development
1420 Miner St., Des Plaines, IL 60016
Attention: Maisie Westerfield, CDBG Administrator
Citizens also have the opportunity to present comments at the public hearing described below. A summary of comments received will be included in the final plan submitted to HUD following the anticipated adoption at the City Council meeting on October 19, 2026. A public hearing on the draft amendment to the PY 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan is currently scheduled to take place on Wednesday, October 7, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. in the Des Plaines Civic Center, Room 102, 1420 Miner St., Des Plaines, IL 60016.
Home Repair Program
The Home Repair Program helps homeowners correct code violations, fix major structural repairs and address home repairs such as roofing, electrical, plumbing, heating doors, windows and more. This program provides single-family homeowner residences 10 year forgivable loans up to $24,000 to correct code violations and perform large-scale home repairs. For additional information, contact Michelle Hill with North West Housing Partnership at 847-969-0561 ext. 2003.
The North West Housing Partnership Home Repair Program offers homeowners residing in Des Plaines a 0% interest, forgivable loan to pay for needed home repairs and maintenance. The program is designed to help homeowners maintain their home's good condition while keeping ownership costs affordable. There are no monthly payments, and the amount owed is forgiven after ten years if the homeowner still owns the home. However, the amount borrowed must be repaid if the homeowner sells the home or otherwise transfers title before the 10 year period is over. In either case, no interest is charged. A ten year lien is placed on the rehabilitated property. The homeowner's credit rating is not affected and the City may subordinate the lien if the homeowner refinances the mortgage. A lead inspection is carried out prior to the performance of any work.
The North West Housing Partnership is administrating the Home Repair Program for the City of Des Plaines. For further information please contact Michelle Hill, Program Manager at 847-969-0561/ext. 221 North West Housing Partnership.
Apply now at nwhp.net!
Minor Repair/Home Accessibility Modification Program
The Minor Home Repair Program (MHRP) is for projects to address accessibility improvements and minor repairs that do not have the immediate need for work qualifying for the ERP. This program offers homeowners residing in Des Plaines a 0% interest, three year forgivable loan for up to $8,000 to pay for needed home repairs and maintenance to address accessibility needs, non-immediate repairs, and small-scale repair jobs. This program is marketed towards the low-and moderate-income elderly population, as well as low-and moderate-income disabled residents of Des Plaines to perform accessibility home modifications.
In some instances, a lead inspection will be performed before work being performed. There are no monthly payments and the amount owed is forgiven after three years if the homeowner still owns the home. However, the amount borrowed must be repaid if the homeowner sells the home or otherwise transfers title before the three-year period is over. In either case, no interest is charged. A three-year lien is placed on the rehabilitated property. The homeowner's credit rating is not affected, and the City may subordinate the lien if the homeowner refinances the mortgage.
The North West Housing Partnership is administrating the Minor Home Repair Program for the City of Des Plaines. For further information please contact Michelle Hill, Program Manager at 847-969-0561/ext. 2003, North West Housing Partnership.
Apply now at nwhp.net!
Priority Life Savings Home Repair Program
The Priority Life Savings Home Repair Program provides up to $5,000 for eligible low-and moderate-income homeowners in the City of Des Plaines for emergency repairs needed to maintain the health and safety of household members. There is funding for two (2) grants per year. This must be an emergency situation requiring immediate work. An emergency is defined as “actions immediately necessary to safeguard against imminent danger to human life, health or safety, or to protect property from further structural damage (such as when a property has been damaged by a natural disaster, fire, or structural collapse).”
The assistance will be provided in the form of a grant with no repayment required. The program will target homeowners who need to make emergency repairs necessary to maintain the health and safety of the premises. City inspectors will verify emergency situations.
Plans and Reports
Five-Year Consolidated Plan
Annual Action Plan
The Annual Action Plan is a list of programs, projects and activities that the City plans to accomplish during this program year. Approved projects must be in-line with the approved Five-Year Consolidated Plan. The Annual Action Plan is updated each year.
The Plan for the 2026 Program Year, which runs from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027, was approved by City Council on Monday, July 20, 2026. You can find the approved AAP here: City’s Draft CDBG Program Year (PY) 2026 Annual Action Plan (AAP).(PDF, 896KB)
Questions can be directed to Maisie Westerfield in the CED Department via email (mwesterfield@desplainesil.gov) or by phone at: 847-391-5346.
Annual Performance Reports
Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report
The Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) is a report submitted by the City to HUD in order to evaluate progress in carrying out the CDBG Annual Action Plan. The CAPER is also designed to provide the jurisdiction an opportunity to assess its annual performance in relationship to its five-year Consolidated Plan priorities and objectives. It is also an opportunity to discuss what actions or changes it contemplates as a result of its annual performance.
Legal Notices
Federal regulatory requirements mandate that Des Plaines, or any local government, provides the public with reasonable notice of opportunities to comment on CDBG grant activities related to an application to the state. Below is a list of legal notices in an effort to best fulfill the requirements of the state and reflect the City's dedication to transparency: