The City of Valdosta held two ribbon-cutting ceremonies on Tuesday, November 9, for newly constructed homes on Mills Street and East Ann Street. The reconstructed homes were built utilizing Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.

The city has reconstructed or replaced many dilapidated homes through the funding provided to the CDBG Program by Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It is one of the reasons why the Georgia Initiative recognized the city for Community Housing (GICH) program for its determination to provide decent, safe, and affordable housing and increased economic opportunities for citizens of the City of Valdosta.

Homeowner and program recipient, Syvrolia Robinson, describes the condition of her previous home by saying, “I had large holes in my bathroom roof, so when it would rain, it would cause water to pour into my home and flood down the hallway.” She had lived in that home for a total of twenty-seven years and says that the worst of the damage occurred within the past few. Delight filled her face as she officially cut the ribbon on her new home, which she plans to live in with her granddaughter. 

This joy was also felt by fellow program recipient Beatrice Dean, as she celebrated this new chapter. “When I first walked through the front door, I thought it was a dream house,” said Dean.

The Neighborhood Development Division, which oversees the CDBG entitlement funds, is responsible for directing, coordinating, and managing all Valdosta programs receiving local, state, or federal funding for neighborhood and community development, which also includes the First Time Homebuyer Education and the Single-Family Unit Housing Rehabilitation Program.

To be eligible for the reconstruction home program, a homeowner must meet income eligibility, must reside in the home, and the home must be deemed unsafe for occupancy.

For more information, call the Neighborhood Development Division at 229-671-3617.