Housing & Community Development

The City of Waco Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) works to create opportunities for all Waco residents to access decent, safe housing that they can afford in communities where they can thrive.

For more information click on the appropriate link or call (254) 750-5656.

Our department works closely with local organizations and developers across the City to improve Waco residents' quality of life.

Planning Process

Consolidated Plan
The Five‐year Consolidated Plan determines the community's needs, analyzes the market, sets priorities for programming, and establishes a strategic plan to meet those needs.

Annual Action Plan
The Annual Action Plan Allocates CDBG and HOME funds each year. Must meet the overall goals and priorities of the Consolidated Plan.

Citizen Participation
The Citizen Participation Plan is designed to ensure that the allocation of funds matches the unique community needs. The plan includes at least two public hearings, a public comment period, and a community survey.

Timeline

The City has designated a Program Year from October 1 to September 30. Under normal circumstances, this is the operating year for the program, and the basis for tracking deadlines, unless the funding and approval of the Annual Plan is delayed.

• October 1st: The program year begins.
• December: The annual performance report of City of Waco programs, including those of subgrantees, is due to HUD.
• January: The community needs survey is published. Notices are published in Waco Tribune-Herald, social media, City Newsletter, City website, local libraries, and neighborhood meetings.
• February – April: Funding opportunity begins for eligible organizations, and applications are evaluated. Notices are published in Waco Tribune-Herald, City website, social media, and City Newsletter.
• May – July: The Annual Action Plan and/or Consolidated Plan is drafted.
• June – July: The comment period and public hearings are published in Waco Tribune-Herald, the City website, social media, and the City Newsletter.
• July – August: City Council approves the Annual Action Plan and/or Consolidated Plan.
• August 16th: Annual Action Plan is submitted to HUD for approval.
• September 30th: The program year ends.

• Down Payment Assistance
• Home Rehabilitation
• Residential Tax Abatement Program

• City of Waco Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing (Executive Summary)(PDF, 32KB)
• Fair Housing Plan 2014(PDF, 6MB)
• Additional Fair Housing Information(PDF, 312KB)

What is the Fair Housing Act?

The Fair Housing Act protects buyers and renters from housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability, and familial status (including anticipation that children may become part of a household).

How do I report housing discrimination?

If an individual believes they have experienced housing discrimination, they can file a complaint with their local Fair Housing Officer, Galen Price at galenp@wacotx.gov.

The City of Waco receives two federal grant programs from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME). Both grants allow funding of several programs and activities that benefit our residents.

CDBG

The CDBG program provides annual allocations to the City of Waco for various activities that preserve and develop viable urban communities. The program's principal beneficiaries are low- and moderate-income households.

Who is eligible to apply for funds:

• Private Non-profit organizations (IRS 501(c)(3) or 501 (c)(6) status)
• Faith-based organizations
• Private for-profit Entities may qualify when carrying out authorized economic development activities.
• Community-Based Development Organizations (CBDO) may be designated as a subrecipient to carry out special activities such as economic development or new housing construction.
• Governmental agencies that are quasi-governmental public agencies, commissions, or authorities (such as a public housing authority or park district) independent of the City of Waco.

HOME

The HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) provides formula grants to the City of Waco - often in partnership with local nonprofit groups - to fund a wide range of activities including building, buying, and/or rehabilitating affordable housing for rent or homeownership or providing direct rental assistance to low-income people. It is designed to create affordable housing for low-income households.

Who is eligible to apply for funds:

• Housing Development Organizations
• Non-profit organizations
• For-profit entities
• Faith-Based Organizations
• Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDO)

Funding Opportunities

The application period for eligible organizations is currently closed. Guidance to apply for funding can be downloaded using the link below. This guidance provides essential information on the following:

• CDBG & HOME Objectives
• Regulations
• Requirements
• Eligible Activities
• Application Instructions

Funding Guide(PDF, 891KB)

Organizations awarded federal grant funds must comply with federal regulations while providing services to low- and moderate-income Waco residents. Learn about the grants available and how to apply for funding. 

• Low Income Housing Tax Credit(PDF, 60KB)
• Subrecipients

Five-Year Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan

The consolidated planning process serves as the framework for a community-wide dialogue to identify housing and community development priorities that align and focus funding from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Programs.

The Annual Action Plan for the 2024 program year is included. The Annual Action Plan summarizes the housing and community development activities and spending of $2,048,219 of CDBG and HOME funds for the program year beginning October 1, 2024.

The report will be available soon

HOME-ARP

The City of Waco was awarded $2,539,867 in HOME-ARP funds. The final allocation plan is available below.

• HOME-ARP Allocation Plan(PDF, 2MB)

Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER)

At the end of every program year, City of Waco is required to prepare the CAPER. The report summarizes housing and community development activities for the program year 2022 (PY22). View the report by clicking the link below.

• 2022 CAPER(PDF, 445KB)

Waco Strategic Housing Plan

• Waco Strategic Housing Plan(PDF, 7MB)
• Waco Strategic Housing Plan Appendices(PDF, 10MB)
• Waco Strategic Housing Plan Presentation(PDF, 3MB)

Strategies to End Homelessness

• Strategic Plan for Ending Homelessness - English(PDF, 2MB)
• Strategies for Ending Homelessness Presentation - English(PDF, 1MB)
• Strategic Plan for Ending Homelessness - Spanish(PDF, 2MB)
• Strategies for Ending Homelessness Presentation - Spanish(PDF, 1MB)