What We Do
The Department of Housing and Citizen Services stands at the forefront of community transformation in Pueblo. Committed to fostering stability, opportunity, and growth, this dedicated division plays a vital role in strengthening neighborhoods and enriching the lives of residents.
Through a multi-faceted approach, the Department works tirelessly to increase affordable housing options, preserve existing homes, and revitalizing low- to moderate-income neighborhoods. Its initiatives extend beyond housing, providing essential support to nonprofit organizations, offering services to Pueblo's unhoused community, and ensuring the upkeep of vital infrastructure that serves as the backbone of the city.
The Department of Housing and Citizen Services is also a trusted partner for developers and community organizations, delivering technical expertise and assistance that drives impactful projects and innovative solutions. At the heart of this work are five bold strategies designed to expand Pueblo’s affordable housing stock and address the challenges of housing insecurity with vision and determination.
Every program and initiative is fueled by the belief that housing is more than shelter—it’s a foundation for brighter futures and thriving communities. Together, with the support of community partners, the Department is turning this belief into action, creating pathways for change and laying the groundwork for a stronger Pueblo.
The City of Pueblo supports affordable housing development and preservation in several different ways.
HOME Investment Partnership Program
The City of Pueblo receives an annual allocation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the HOME Investment Partnership Program. This vital initiative provides formula grants to states and localities, enabling communities to collaborate with nonprofit organizations to fund a diverse range of projects. From building and buying affordable housing to rehabilitating properties and providing direct rental assistance for low-income individuals, HOME is a cornerstone of equitable housing development.
Benefits
The HOME program offers unparalleled flexibility, empowering communities to design and implement housing strategies tailored to their unique needs and priorities. Its innovative framework encourages collaboration and strengthens partnerships across all levels of government and the private sector, fostering a unified approach to affordable housing.
Key benefits include:
- Tailored Solutions: HOME allows communities to address housing challenges in ways that align with their specific goals.
- Strengthened Partnerships: Consolidated planning brings together government entities and private-sector stakeholders to drive impactful housing solutions.
- Capacity Building: Technical assistance and set-asides for community-based nonprofit housing groups bolster their ability to lead transformative projects.
- Resource Mobilization: By requiring participating jurisdictions (PJs) to match $0.25 for every dollar in program funds, HOME inspires local investment and expands resources dedicated to affordable housing.
Programs
Through the HOME program, the City of Pueblo supports targeted initiatives to enhance the availability and sustainability of affordable housing:
- Gap Funding for Affordable Housing Projects: This essential financial support helps affordable housing developments flourish, ensuring the creation of long-term, affordable properties that serve the community for years to come.
- Operating Funds for Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDO): These funds provide temporary assistance to smaller nonprofit housing developers, helping cover staffing costs and maintain their vital operations.
Together, these programs reflect Pueblo's commitment to addressing housing needs and fostering a community where everyone has access to safe, affordable housing.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
The City of Pueblo proudly participates in the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, a cornerstone initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This program is designed to address critical community needs by supporting projects and services that benefit low- to moderate-income residents, revitalize neighborhoods, and promote equitable growth.
Through CDBG, the City of Pueblo collaborates with community organizations, nonprofits, and other partners to create a stronger, more inclusive Pueblo where everyone can thrive. From improving essential infrastructure to providing much-needed social services, the CDBG program is an essential tool for fostering resilient and vibrant communities.
Benefits of CDBG
The CDBG program provides far-reaching benefits that enhance the quality of life for Pueblo residents:
- Empowering Communities: Funds are allocated to projects that directly benefit low- to moderate-income individuals and families, addressing their unique needs and priorities. An open application round is held annually, allowing community members to directly apply for neighborhood revitalization projects.
- Neighborhood Revitalization: CDBG supports initiatives that improve infrastructure, housing preservation, and public facilities in neighborhoods most in need, fostering safer and healthier communities.
- Economic Opportunity: By funding programs that support local businesses and job creation, CDBG helps stimulate economic growth and opportunities for residents.
- Flexible Solutions: The program’s flexibility allows the City of Pueblo to tailor projects to address the specific challenges and goals of our community.
CDBG Programs in Pueblo
The City of Pueblo utilizes CDBG funds to implement targeted initiatives that create meaningful and lasting change:
- Public Infrastructure Improvements: Funding is used to upgrade roads, install ADA accessible sidewalks, park improvements, and other vital infrastructure in underserved neighborhoods.
- Home Repair Program(s): CDBG supports the preservation of units by giving grants and loans to low to moderate income homeowners in the City, through a direct Minor Repair Program and by assisting other agencies that also offer this service.
- Nonprofit Services: The program funds services that benefit low- to moderate-income individuals, such as food assistance, child care, and support for the unhoused community.
The City of Pueblo Housing and Citizen Services Division is dedicated to supporting nonprofit partners in their mission to strengthen our community. Through strategic funding opportunities and collaborative initiatives, we help nonprofits thrive and expand their impact. Here's how:
Operating Funds: We provide critical temporary assistance to smaller nonprofit housing developers via the Community Housing Development Agency Program. This support helps cover essential staffing costs, ensuring their operations remain robust and effective.
Capital Improvements: Nonprofits can apply for funding during the annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application cycle, typically open in late spring. These grants are a valuable resource for projects that enhance infrastructure and community facilities.
Programs: Up to 15% of the City’s allocation of CDBG funding is earmarked for program-specific initiatives. Nonprofits can apply for funding to deliver impactful services and programs that directly benefit the community.
In addition to funding opportunities, the Housing and Citizen Services Division serves as the City's liaison to the Community Service Advisory Committee—a dedicated volunteer group that advises the City and County on nonprofit grant allocations. This collaborative effort ensures that resources are distributed effectively to organizations making a difference.
By working together, the City of Pueblo and our nonprofit partners are building stronger communities, one initiative at a time.
Our city is committed to revitalizing neighborhoods and enhancing the quality of life for all residents. We achieve this through a multifaceted approach that leverages Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, HOME Investment Partnership funding, targeted housing projects, and coordinated public/private partnerships with nonprofits.
- Through CDBG Funding Allocated to Public Facilities
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is a vital resource for improving public facilities and infrastructure. CDBG funds are allocated to support projects that benefit low- to moderate-income communities, prevent or eliminate slums and blight, or address urgent community needs. Eligible projects include the construction, rehabilitation, or improvement of community centers, health clinics, food banks, shelters, sidewalks, and other physical upgrades that enhance public infrastructure
By investing in these facilities, we ensure that residents have access to essential services and safe, well-maintained environments. - Through Targeted Housing Projects
We prioritize the development of affordable housing to meet the needs of our community. Targeted housing projects focus on creating safe, accessible, and affordable housing options for low- and moderate-income families. These projects include new construction, rehabilitation of existing properties, and the development of supportive housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness
By addressing the housing needs of our community, we promote stability and improve the overall quality of life for our residents. - Through Coordinated Public/Private Partnerships and Nonprofits
Public/private partnerships and collaborations with nonprofits are essential to our neighborhood revitalization efforts. These partnerships bring together the resources and expertise of government entities, private sector organizations, and nonprofit groups to address community needs effectively. Nonprofits play a crucial role in administering services, building private support for government initiatives, and bridging funding gaps.
By working together, we can leverage additional resources, expand our reach, and create sustainable solutions that benefit the entire community.
Join us in our mission to revitalize neighborhoods and create a brighter future for all residents. Together, we can make a significant impact and build a more inclusive, vibrant community.
Fair housing practices are crucial in ensuring that everyone has equal access to housing opportunities, free from discrimination. These practices apply across various industries, including real estate, rental properties, and homeowners associations (HOAs). By promoting fairness and equality, we help create inclusive communities where all individuals, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability, can find safe and affordable housing. If you feel you have been discriminated against, it's important to take action. You can contact the Colorado Civil Rights Division to file a complaint and seek assistance. For more information on the complaint process, visit Colorado Civil Rights Division.
2021 Pueblo Housing Assessment and Strategy Report
2024 Pueblo Housing Assessment and Strategy Report Update
Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation and Report (CAPER)
2025-2029 Consolidated Plan
2025 Annual Action Plan
As an Entitlement Community for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the City of Pueblo is assigned the role of a Responsibly Entity (RE) and tasked with completing environmental reviews for all HUD-assisted projects taking place within the City of Pueblo.
An environmental review is the process of reviewing a project and its potential environmental impacts to determine whether it meets federal, state, and local environmental standards. The environmental review process is required for all HUD-assisted projects to ensure that the proposed project does not negatively impact the surrounding environment and that the property site itself will not have an adverse environmental or health effect on end users. Not every project is subject to a full environmental review (i.e., every project's environmental impact must be examined, but the extent of this examination varies), but every project must be in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and other related Federal and state environmental laws.
Federal Laws Associated with Environmental Reviews:
- Airport Hazards (24 CFR 51, Subpart D): It is HUD’s policy to apply standards to prevent incompatible development around civil airports and military airfields.
- Coastal Barrier Resources (16 U.S.C. 3501): The Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) of 1982 restricts most new Federal expenditures and financial assistance being done in designated undeveloped coastal barriers along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
- Flood Insurance (42 U.S.C. 4106): The Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 requires that projects receiving federal assistance and located in an area identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as being within a Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) be covered by flood insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
- Air Quality (40 CFR Part 6, 40 CFR Part 51, 40 CFR Part 93, Sections 176 (c) and (d): The Clean Air Act (CAA) is a comprehensive federal law in the United States that protects public health and welfare by regulating air emissions to improve air quality. This is achieved by establishing national standards for air quality, requiring states to develop plans to meet those standards, and regulating emissions from various sources like vehicles and industrial facilities.
- Coastal Zone Management (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq): The Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) of 1972 ensures federally funded projects that can affect the coastal zone are carried out in a manner consistent with the state coastal zone management program.
- Contamination and Toxic Substances (24 CFR Part 58.5(i)(2): It is HUD’s policy that all property proposed for use in HUD programs be free of hazardous materials, contamination, toxic chemicals and gasses, and radioactive substances, where a hazard could affect the health and safety of occupants or conflict with the intended utilization of the property.
- Endangered Species (50 CFR Part 402): The Endangered Species Act of 1973 ensures that all HUD-assisted projects consider potential impacts to endangered and threatened species and critical habitats.
- Explosive and Flammable Hazards (24 CFR Part 51, Subpart C): It is HUD’s policy that all HUD-assisted projects be separated from hazardous facilities that store, handle, or process hazardous substances of flammable or explosive nature by a distance that is based on the facility’s contents and volume of the above-ground storage tank(s), or to implement mitigation measures for the project.
- Farmlands Protection (7 U.S.C. 4201 et seq): The Farmland Protection Policy Act minimizes the effect of Federal programs on the unnecessary and irreversible conversion of farmland to nonagricultural uses.
- Floodplain Management (EO 11988, EO 11990, EO 13690, EO14030, 24 CFR Part 55): Executive Orders and HUD rules require Federal activities to avoid impacts to floodplains and to avoid direct and indirect support of floodplain development to the extent practicable by using a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) approach.
- Historic Preservation (36 CFR Part 800): The National Historic Preservation Act directs each federal agency, and those tribal, state, and local governments that assume federal agency responsibilities, to protect historic properties and to avoid, minimize, or mitigate possible harm that may result from agency actions.
- Noise Abatement and Control (24 CFR Part 51, Subpart B): It is HUD’s policy that HUD programs abide by a minimum national standard to protect citizens against excessive noise in their communities and places of residence.
- Sole Source Aquifers (40 CFR Part 149): The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 requires protection of drinking water systems that are the sole or principal drinking water source for an area and which, if contaminated, would create a significant hazard to public health.
- Wetlands Protection (EO 11990): EO 11990 requires Federal activities to avoid adverse impacts to wetlands where practicable.
- Wild and Scenic Rivers (16 U.S.C. 1270 - 1287): The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System created by Congress in 1968 requires HUD-assisted activities to evaluate the potential to impact any listed Wild and Scenic River when the assisted project is within proximity to a listed natural resource.
- Environmental Justice (EO 12898): EO 12898 requires projects determine if the project creates adverse environmental impacts upon a low-income or minority community, and if so, engage the community in meaningful participation about mitigating the impacts or move the project.
The Environmental Review Process:
An Environmental Review is a critical piece of any federally funded project and is to be completed after a federal nexus on a project and prior to any federal funds being committed or spent on a project.
The process includes a Responsible Entity (RE) helping the funding grantee define the project, determine the level of review, and document the environmental review process for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Each HUD-funded project is evaluated based on the scope of work and given a review level determination, which can be found in more detail in the Federal Rule 24 CFR 58, Subpart D.
Federal Nexus and Choice Limiting Actions:
A Federal Nexus for a project is defined as the event that, by its occurrence, triggers the requirement for a federal Environmental Review under a host of laws, regulations, and Executive Orders. Once a Federal Nexus occurs, a project must obtain environmental clearance through an Environmental Review Record (ERR) prior to committing or using federal funds for the project.
If a project proceeds without environmental clearance, the project is at risk of conducting a Statutory or Regulatory Violation. If either violation occurs, the project is at risk of being denied federal funding.
A chart outlining Choice Limiting Actions Can be found here: