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Social Issues

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1. Can I buy a HUD Home for a dollar?

No. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sells homes at market value - that means that the price is set based on the price of similar homes sold in the area. For more information, visit the HUD Homes for Sale Page.

2. Can I get money to repair or paint my own home?

Inglewood Neighborhood Housing Services provides limited home rehabilitation assistance to qualified homeowners. Please contact Inglewood Neighborhood Housing Services at 310-674-3756 and ask for information on their home rehabilitation program.

3. Can the City help me pay my rent?

No, but the City of Inglewood works with an organization called Saint Margaret’s Center, that helps people who have fallen behind in rent or need emergency money for a first and last month's deposit. For further information, call 310-672-2208 to see if you qualify for emergency services.

4. Do you have a housing repair program for senior citizens?

The City of Inglewood does not directly administer a senior citizen housing repair program. However, Inglewood Neighborhood Housing Services provides home rehabilitation grants for senior citizens. For more information, please call Inglewood Neighborhood Housing Services at 310-674-3756.

5. Do you have first time homebuyer programs or grants for Inglewood residents?

The City of Inglewood does not directly administer a first time home-buyer program. Please call Inglewood Neighborhood Housing Services at 310-674-3756 for further information on first time home-buyer programs.

6. How can I get a City loan for a house?

The City of Inglewood works with an agency called, Inglewood Neighborhood Housing Services who provide home-ownership classes and some financial assistance for qualifying individuals. Low to moderate-income individuals may qualify for certain programs. For more information contact Inglewood Neighborhood Housing Services at 310-674-3756.

7. How can I get involved in the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program?

The City of Inglewood believes that citizens can significantly contribute toward the operation of a successful program by participating in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of community development activities. As community representatives, citizens bring knowledge of the problems and needs of individuals, groups and neighborhoods. Citizens’ participation help the City Council make more informed decisions regarding community development activities in Inglewood. The City submits your suggestions and comments in the annual report to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). To get involved, you can:

- Attend community meetings, public hearings and City Council meetings to voice your opinion of how CDBG funding should be spent.
- Let your with your City Council member know your opinion; send them a letter, schedule a visit or call them.
- Organize your block, or apartment building. Meet with your local block club group and start to strategize!
- Educate your neighbors or people in your family about CDBG funding and how they can become involved.

CDBG has several public hearings throughout the year. For more information on CDBG public hearings, please call 310-412-8800.

8. What are Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Eligible Activities?

To learn what activities are eligible and ineligible for the Community Development Block Grant, view our List of Examples.

9. What can I do if I or someone I know are being discriminated against in a housing or apartment rental situation?

The City provides funding to the Southern California Housing Rights Center to offer fair housing services to landlords, tenants, and families with children.

- Have you received an eviction notice?
- Have you had trouble getting repairs completed?
- Have you experienced discrimination in housing because of your race, ethnic origin, marital status, sex, religion, arbitrary reason (i.e. sexual orientation, source of income)?
- Have disputes between tenants and landlords escalated to the point where mediation is needed?
- Have you moved recently but haven't received your security deposit?
- Do you need information about your rights and responsibilities?

Southern California Housing Rights Center investigates cases of alleged housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, familial status, age, and sexual preference. For questions or other assistance please contact the Southern California Housing Rights Center hotline at 310-474-1667. Assistance is available in Spanish, Mandarin, English, Armenian, Portuguese and Russian.

10. What is a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)?

The Community Development Block Grant is a federally funded grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), aimed to assist low to moderate-income communities in community development projects. Every year, each city with more than 50,000 people and each county with a population with more than 200,000 automatically receive this funding from the federal government. CDBG dollars can be used to fund community development projects such as:

- Public Facilities: Day care centers, recreational facilities, parks/playgrounds or health centers.
- Public Improvements: Street and sidewalk repairs/improvements, graffiti removal.
- Public Services: Employment services, crime prevention, childcare, health services, fair housing counseling or recreational services.
- Housing Activities: Housing rehabilitation, lead abatement, housing discrimination services, and emergency shelter services.
- Economic Development: small business loans/grants, job training, construction and rehabilitation of commercial buildings.

11. What is the Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) Program?

Emergency Shelter Grant program funds are used to help improve the quality of existing emergency shelters for the homeless, to help make available additional emergency shelters, and to meet the costs of operating shelter and providing essential services to the homeless. The City of Inglewood contracts with two agencies that provide a provision of homeless services. These agencies are St. Margaret's Center and People Assisting the Homeless (PATH).

12. What is the HOME Investment Partnership Act (HOME)?

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocates HOME Investment Partnership Act funds by formula to eligible state and local governments, including the City of Inglewood to strengthen public-private partnerships to provide more affordable housing.

15% of HOME funds must be allocated to a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO). The City utilizes the remaining 85% of HOME funds to expand the supply of decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing to very low to moderate-income persons. This is accomplished through implementation of housing programs and projects that provide assistance in the form of grants and deferred loans. HOME Program eligible costs and activities are, program administration, new housing construction, housing rehabilitation, home mortgage/purchase assistance, short term rental assistance.

13. What type of assistance does the OEBD offer?

We offer a wide range of services and assistance for business in the City of Inglewood. Learn more on our OEBD Services Page.

14. What type of programs and projects are eligible for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds?

CDBG funds can be used for a wide range of activities such as housing rehabilitation, code enforcement, acquisition of real property, demolition, infrastructure and public facility improvements, economic development, and social services. The primary eligibility requirement for any such activity to be funded is that the project or program principally benefits low and moderate-income persons in designated census tracts. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines low and moderate income as a household that is at or below 80% of the median income for the area. These income guidelines are adjusted annually.

15. What types of housing programs are available to non-profit community based programs?

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers community-based nonprofit organizations the opportunity to purchase HUD homes at discounts of up to 30% off the appraised value. For more information, visit the HUD Nonprofits Page.

16. What types of programs are funded by Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)?

Funded programs are those that serve 51% low and moderate-income neighborhoods and residents within the City of Inglewood. The majority of CDBG funds are used in acquisition, construction, engineering, planning, and economic development projects. However, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allows 15% of the City's entitlement to go toward funding "public service" (social services) programs. Such "public service" funded programs include:

Juvenile diversion/youth services
- Senior citizen services
- Persons with HIV/AIDS services
- Job training
- Homeless services
- Family violence/crime intervention and prevention services
- Transitional living services.

Note: This list is not inclusive of all types of services that may be eligible under the CDBG Program.

17. Who can apply for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)?

CDBG funds are available for community development projects in specific, federally mandated CDBG areas within the City of Inglewood. CDBG grants are awarded on a competitive basis to certified 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations. Request for Proposals (RFP) are made available once per year, usually during the month of May. To have your agency added to the City’s CDBG mailing list, please submit your agency’s address and contact name to:

CDBG Division
1 Manchester Boulevard
Suite 550
Inglewood, California 90301

Or fax requests to 310-330-5780.

18. Who is eligible for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds?

Individual citizens or families are not eligible for direct CDBG funds. Only certified, non-profit 501(c) (3) organizations can apply for funding. Projects and programs must benefit low and moderate-income individuals in CDBG eligible areas. City departments can also apply to provide for improvements to public property such as streets, sidewalks and parks. For more information, please call the CDBG Division at 310-412-8800.