Seaford council authorizes city to join Sussex County CDBG application to fund housing rehab

Seaford City Council voted unanimously on May 26 to authorize the city to participate in a Sussex County application for Community Development Block Grant funding to support housing rehabilitation and other low- and moderate-income projects.

Brandon Hamilton, who identified himself as with the Sussex County Community Development and Housing Department, told the council that the Department of Housing and Urban Development allocates roughly $3 million this grant year to Kent and Sussex counties on a competitive basis and that eligible activities include housing rehabilitation, sewer and water hookups, demolition and infrastructure work that benefit households at or below 80% of area median income.

"This grant year, there's approximately $3 million that will be awarded to Kent and Sussex counties on a competitive basis," Hamilton said, and he urged local leaders to build a waiting list so the county can include Seaford in its application. He said Seaford has received about $375,000 in CDBG funds over the past five years and that county programs historically focus on owner-occupied housing rehabilitation. Hamilton provided income thresholds to help residents self-assess eligibility: about $57,800 for a single-person household and $82,550 for a family of four.

Councilors and the county representative discussed the city's waiting list: Hamilton said Seaford currently has three households on its list and that the county requires at least four names to submit a municipality's application; he reported that one additional applicant should move onto the list this week. He also described verification steps, including checking driver's license and county tax records, to ensure applicants are permanent residents and do not own multiple properties.

Vice Mayor Dan Henderson moved to approve Seaford's participation and to authorize the mayor to execute required documents. The motion passed on a unanimous roll call vote.

The county office will prepare the application with the city's signed documents and minutes; the deadline for submission is Sept. 25, 2026. Residents interested in the waiting list can contact the Sussex County Community Development and Housing office by phone or via the online application on the county website, Hamilton said.

What happens next: city staff will provide the signed minutes and forms to county staff for inclusion in the competitive CDBG application; if the city secures funding it would be used primarily for owner-occupied housing rehabilitation and emergency repairs under the program rules.