Sandy City is steering roughly $306,000 in federal housing dollars toward down payment help and home repairs for low- and moderate-income residents during the 2026–2027 program year.

The Sandy City Council approved the 2026 Annual Action Plan by roll-call vote on May 12, directing $305,825 of the city's $429,396 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation to three housing programs. The money comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The plan marks a shift. In prior years, Sandy's Community Development Department spent CDBG funds on public facilities such as the city's Senior Center. This year's action plan, the second under a five-year consolidated plan adopted in 2025, pivots toward stabilizing affordable housing and boosting homeownership, the Sandy Journal reported.

Where the money goes

The CDBG action plan splits the housing funds among three organizations:

  • Habitat for Humanity of Greater Salt Lake Area: $130,825 for critical home repairs serving an estimated 17 households. Sandy City said on its official Facebook page that qualifying residents can receive grants of up to $20,000 for repairs including roofs, plumbing, windows and accessibility upgrades. Contact: 801-263-0136.
  • ASSIST Inc.: $100,000 for emergency home repair and accessibility improvements for an estimated 23 households. Services include roof repairs, plumbing fixes and accessibility features such as ramps and grab bars. Contact: 801-355-7085.
  • Community Development Corporation of Utah (CDCU): $75,000 for down payment assistance for an estimated four first-time homebuyers. Eligible buyers must not have owned a home in the past three years, must occupy the home as a primary residence and must contribute at least $1,000 toward the purchase. Contact: 801-994-7222.

All told, the programs are expected to help 44 Sandy residents. The program year runs July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

Beyond housing

Another $56,209 goes to public services, funding five organizations serving populations including domestic violence survivors, youth and medically vulnerable residents. Planning and administration accounts for $67,362.

Council Member Alison Stroud highlighted one result at the Aug. 4 council meeting. She noted that CDBG funds supported MileStone Housing, a transitional housing program for young adults ages 18 to 21, and that the organization held a ribbon cutting for a second home. Stroud cited "a 97% success rate transitioning young adults to independent living."

Jake Warner, Sandy's long-range planning manager and CDBG program administrator, oversees the grants. Residents with questions can reach Warner at [email protected] or 801-568-7262.

Sandy also renewed its membership in the Salt Lake County HOME Consortium at the same May 12 meeting. The consortium aims to build 1,000 subsidized housing units across Salt Lake County through 2031.