The City’s Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance Program, Downpayment Assistance Program (DPA), and Homeowner Repair and Upgrade Program are funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1611(a), only individuals lawfully present in the United States are eligible for any Federal public benefit such as the City’s CDBG-funded programs. As such, the City is required to verify the lawful presence of all applicants for the CDBG-funded programs with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) through the Systematic Alien Verification and Eligibility (SAVE) system.

To apply for any of the City’s CDBG-funded programs, you must provide one of the approved documents that verifies you are lawfully present in the U.S. After receipt of this information, City staff will verify your legal residency status through the SAVE system.

If you have any questions about this eligibility requirement, please contact housing@gaithersburgmd.gov.

On July 1, 2025, Gaithersburg received CDBG funds directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The overall goals of the CDBG Program are to provide decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.

As of 2025, the City uses CDBG funds to administer the following programs:

HUD defines persons of Low and Moderate Income as meeting 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) as defined by HUD. Effective July 1, 2025, the new income maximums (per household size) are in the table below. To participate in a HUD-funded program through the City of Gaithersburg, household incomes must be at or below 80% of the AMI.

Household size 1 Person 2 3 4 5 6  7 8 
50% AMI $57,400 $65,600 $73,800 $81,950 $88,550 $95,100  $101,650 $108,200
80% AMI $74,800 $85,450 $96,150 $106,800 $115,350 $123,900  $132,450  $141,000

 

Every five years, the City is required to submit a comprehensive planning document to HUD. This Consolidated Plan must address how the City intends -over the five-year period of the Plan - to address the housing and community development needs of its low-and moderate-income. The City’s current Consolidated Plan expires June 2028, and a new Plan will be completed in advance of the expiration date.

HUD reporting requires resident engagement and opportunities for citizen participation. The City’s 2015 Citizen Participation Plan and amended 2020 Plan can be found in the Documents section.