A Fond du Lac city official says the Trump administration’s proposed budget that includes eliminating Community Development Block grants and slashing funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development would be devastating to Fond du lac. Community Development director Diane Benson says the city of Fond du lac has been receiving the grants through the Department of Housing and Urban Development since 2004, and prior to that through the state. Benson says the funds have helped the city reinvest in the community through a housing rehab loan program. “Where we provide a zero percent interest loan for income eligible families in order to undertake those projects like a new roof, new water heater, furnace…those kind of life circumstances that often times you just don’t have that financial capacity to cover,” Benson told WFDL news. “That’s what our program is for. Without that a lot of homes in our community would be a lot more blighted and not in the condition they are in now.” Benson says the city would lose approximately $500,000 annually if the program is eliminated. Benson says its more than just low income housing. She says the funding is used for economic development, infrastructure, public services and more. ‘These dollars really do make a very important impact in our community,” Benson said.
