The Housing-Community Development-Social Services Committee (HCD-SS) of the Board of Representatives, in cooperation with the Mayor, is charged by ordinance with carrying out the citizen participation process, determining community needs and recommending CDBG allocations to projects and programs to be carried out by many local organizations. As a result, each Representative is in touch with and is responsive to the small population of their neighborhood/district. The voters of each district elect two representatives to the Board of Representatives. Stamford’s form of government provides for the division of the City into 20 districts with an average of 2,700 voters each. While HUD recognizes that the localities know their community development needs better than it does, HUD emphasizes community involvement in the determination of local needs and the allocation of CDBG funds to projects and programs. HUD’s primary objective for the CDBG program is "the development of viable urban communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanding economic opportunities principally for persons of low income." The five major areas in which CDBG funds may be used are: affordable housing, public improvements, economic development, public services and planning/administration. The City of Stamford receives approximately $1,100,000 in CDBG funds annually. The amount of the CDBG allocation is determined by one of two formulas based on either: (1) age of housing, extent of poverty, and growth lag, or (2) population, poverty, and the extent of housing over-crowding.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) distributes Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to cities, having a population of 50,000 or more, to help them address a wide range of housing and community development needs of low income residents.