City of Huntsville is highlighting its investment in neighborhoods and residents this week as part of National Community Development Week, with an expanded focus on home rehabilitation for low-income seniors.
The annual observance spotlights the impact of the federal Community Development Block Grant program, which provides funding for housing, infrastructure and community improvements. In Huntsville, those funds are often used to help seniors remain safely in their homes through critical repairs and upgrades.
Projects funded through the program typically include roofing repairs, new siding and accessibility improvements — work that city leaders say can be out of reach for many residents on fixed incomes.
This year, the city is completing two home rehabilitation projects and is preparing to expand the program further with an additional $500,000 in CDBG funding for the 2026–2027 program year.
Mayor Tommy Battle said the program plays a key role in ensuring growth benefits all parts of the community.
“Our Community Development Department uses these grants for projects that make a real difference,” Battle said. “As Huntsville continues to grow, we are committed to ensuring that growth supports the people and neighborhoods who have built this community. That’s exactly what our Community Development team does year-round.”
Community Development Manager Scott Erwin said the impact of the projects goes far beyond the repairs themselves.
“These projects may seem small on the surface – a repaired roof, new siding, accessibility improvements – but to the seniors we serve, they are life-changing,” Erwin said. “They mean safety. They mean dignity. And they mean the ability to age in place in the community they’ve called home for decades.”
National Community Development Week runs through Friday and offers an opportunity for residents to learn more about how federal funding is used locally to improve housing, expand services and enhance quality of life across Huntsville.
