The Chattanooga City Council voted Tuesday to provide Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise with $100,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding to help low income homeowners make repairs to their home, and $15,000 in CDBG funding for pre-purchase counseling. A long standing partner with the city, CNE has provided over 3,800 homeowners with needed repairs.
“CNE started with CDBG funds to eliminated substandard housing to Chattanooga,” said Martina Guilfoil, president and CEO of CNE. “The original mission of the organization continues as numerous Chattanooga homeowners continue to live in blighted housing. Our home improvement loans help create a secure environment for homeowners who might be living in unsafe housing conditions.”
CNE uses the city of Chattanooga CDBG program funding to make affordable loans to provide homeowners the ability to make home repairs or improvements. In order to qualify, homeowners must live in the city of Chattanooga, the home must be their primary residence and applicants are subject to income limitations.
“Many homeowners aren’t able to obtain traditional loans necessary to make home repairs,” said Carolyn Burke, manager of the Homeownership Center at CNE. “We are able to meet the need to ensure homes are safe and comfortable.”
The City Council also approved $15,000 for CNE to provide pre-purchase counseling to help Chattanoogans fulfill their dream of homeownership. Since its inception in 1986, CNE has provided counseling to over 10,000 residents. Homeownership orientation classes occur every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at CNE’s office, 1500 Chestnut St., Suite 102.
For more information on how to apply for CDBG home improvement loans or register for homeownership counseling, contact CNE at 756-6201 or info@cneinc.org. More information is available at www.cneinc.org.