§ 500.4 Code enforcement programs.

The Secretary is authorized to make a grant of not exceeding two-thirds (or three-fourths in the case of a municipality having a population of 50,000 or less) of the cost of carrying out programs of concentrated code enforcement in deteriorated or deteriorating areas in which such enforcement, together with those public improvements to be provided by the locality, may be expected to arrest the decline of the area. Eligible code enforcement activities may include the provision and repair of necessary streets, curbs, sidewalks, street lighting, tree planting, and similar improvements within such areas. Prior to execution of a contract for a code enforcement grant, the municipality must have a workable program for community improvement currently in effect, must assure that any individuals or families displaced by the code enforcement activities are offered decent, safe, and sanitary housing within their means, and must provide relocation assistance and relocation payments on the same basis as in urban renewal project activities. The policies and procedures applicable to code enforcement programs are set forth in the Code Enforcement Grant Handbook, RHA 7250. Application for financial assistance for a code enforcement grant may be made by cities, other municipalities, and counties on Form HUD-6170, Application for Code Enforcement Grant, and Form HUD6170A, Application for Code Enforcement Grant-Area Data.

§ 500.5 Demolition programs.

The Secretary is authorized to make a grant of not exceeding two-thirds of the cost of demolishing structures which under State or local law have been determined to be structurally unsound, a harborage or potential harborage of rats, or unfit for human habitation. If the structures to be demolished are not in an urban renewal area; (a) the locality involved must have a currently certified workable program for community improvement and the structures to be demolished must constitute a serious hazard to the public health or welfare, (b) the demolition must be on a planned

neighborhood basis and further the overall renewal objectives of the locality, (c) a program of enforcement of existing local housing and related codes must be currently underway in the locality, and (d) the governing body of the municipality must determine that other available legal procedures to secure remedial action by the owners of the structures involved have been exhausted and that demolition by governmental action is required. The locality will be obligated to assure that any individuals or families displaced as a result of the federally assisted demolition are offered decent, safe, and sanitary housing. Relocation payments must be made available on the same basis as in urban renewal project activities. The policies and procedures applicable to the demolition program are set forth in the Demolition Grant Handbook, RHA 7300. Cities, other municipalities, and counties seeking financial assistance under this program may obtain information and forms from the Regional Office which serves the locality seeking assistance.

§ 500.6 Rehabilitation grants.

The Secretary may authorize a local public agency to make grants (and an urban renewal or code enforcement project, or neighborhood development program may include the making of such grants) to individuals and families owning and occupying real property which is in urban renewal areas, areas certified by the locality to contain a substantial number of structures in need of repairs and improvements, or areas of concentrated code enforcement, or real property which is determined to be uninsurable because of physical hazards after an inspection pursuant to a statewide insurance plan approved by the Secretary under title XII of the National Housing Act. Such grants are to cover the cost of repairs and improvements necessary to make such real property conform to public standards for decent, safe, and sanitary housing as required by applicable codes and other requirements of the urban renewal plan for the area. For an individual whose annual income does not exceed $3,000, a grant is lim

ited to the lesser of $3,000 or the actual cost of the repairs and improvements involved. Where the annual income of the individual or family exceeds $3,000, the amount of the grant is further limited to an amount not exceeding that portion of the cost of repairs and improvements which cannot be paid for with any available loan that can be amortized as part of the applicant's monthly housing expense without requiring that expense to exceed 25 percent of the applicant's monthly income. Local public bodies may include requests for rehabilitation grant assistance in their applications for assistance for an urban renewal or code enforcement project, neighborhood development program or certified area project. Individuals eligible for financial assistance under this program may request and file Form HUD-6260 with the local public body authorized to carry out the project or program involved.

§ 500.7 Interim assistance grants.

(a) The Secretary is authorized to make grants not exceeding two-thirds (or three-fourths in the case of a locality having a population of 50,000 or less) for a program of interim assistance in the alleviation of harmful conditions in slum or blighted areas which are planned for substantial clearance, rehabilitation or Federally assisted code enforcement in the near future. This program may include: (1) The repair of streets, sidewalks, parks, playgrounds, publicly owned utilities, and public buildings to meet needs consistent with the short-term continued use of the area prior to the undertaking of contemplated clearance or upgrading activities, (2) the improvement of private properties to the extent needed to eliminate the most immediate dangers to public health and safety, (3) the demolition of structures determined to be structurally unsound or unfit for human habitation and which constitute a public nuisance and serious hazard to the public health and safety, (4) the establishment of temporary public playgrounds on vacant land within the area, and (5) the improvement of garbage and trash

collection, street cleaning and similar activities.

(b) To be eligible for interim assistance; (1) the locality must have a currently certified workable program for community improvement, and (2) the locality must make a showing that there is a feasible method for the temporary relocation of the individuals and families displaced due to activities under an interim assistance program and must assure the Secretary that there are, or are being provided, sufficient units of decent, safe, and sanitary relocation housing in comparable areas at reasonable rents.

§ 500.8 Community renewal programs.

(a) The Secretary is authorized to make grants not exceeding two-thirds of the total cost of preparing a community renewal program including: (1) Identification of blighted or deteriorating areas in the community, (2) measurement of the nature and degree of blight and blighting factors in the areas, (3) determination of the financial, relocation and other resources needed to renew the areas, (4) identification of potential project areas and types of urban renewal action contemplated, and (5) scheduling of urban renewal activities.

(b) Application for financial assistance under this program may be made by a local public body authorized to perform the necessary planning work on Form HUD-6400, Application for Community Renewal Program Grant. The policies and procedures applicable to community renewal programs are set forth in the Community Renewal Program Handbook, RHA 7230.

§ 500.9 Applications; information.

(a) A local public agency (or a city, other municipality, or county in the case of a code enforcement, demolition grant, or interim assistance program) applying for financial assistance should submit its application and all related documents to the Regional Administrator in the appropriate HUD Regional Office. Application forms and other forms, procedures, policy statements, and materials issued by HUD for the use or guidance of local