News 12 at 6 o'clock, February 2, 2010

AIKEN, S.C. --- A little work here and a little work there, but it's free work to Aiken homeowners paid for by the City Block Development Grant (CBDG). Without it, the work wouldn't get done.

"We're always searching and looking for other grant funding," said Sabina Craig, Community Development Planner.

The grant decreases every year. In fiscal year 2009, the city got $274,940 in funding. This year, they look to get only $214,000. Its good money the city says they hope doesn't dry up anytime soon.
"Well when it's gone, it's gone. Hopefully our president will not do away with this, it's very much needed," said Craig.

The money allows volunteers to come into the city and work on projects that would normally cost you thousand, like adding sidewalks and getting rid of boarded up homes.

"My bathroom was in bad shape. Every time I went in, I thought I was going to fall through," Julia Evans.

"The world changers did a new roof on my home. I was very pleased and thank them for doing it," said Catherine Hicks.

The money also funds the "dial a dumpster" program where people can get rid of their trash somewhere else besides their yards and the side of the road.

"I just moved into the neighborhood and it's pretty clean. It has a lot of work to be done because there's a lot of stuff that needs to be cleaned out," said Frank Coleman. He just moved into the Edgewood community and is looking to get his home weatherized and his bathroom fixed for free with the funds.
Homeowners who have already benefited say he has a lot of good to look forward to.

"If it hadn't been for them, I wouldn't have gotten my bathroom fixed," said Evans.

"We want to make the City of Aiken a beautiful place so that we cannot have substandard housing, we can have beautiful streets and a safe place for children to play," said Craig.

The income levels based on HUD's 2009 income limits are:

1 person household = $31,100 or less
2 person household = $35,500 or less
3 person household = $39,950 or less
4 person household = $44,400 or less
5 person household = $47,950 or less
6 person household = $51,500 or less
7 person household = $55,050 or less
8 person household = $58,600 or less

A person that wants assistance must live in the city limits of Aiken, be income qualified, own their own home and live in it. A neighborhood must be considered low-to-moderate income, which is based on the city's census tract information.