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This article describes the creation of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and its evolution over the years through the lens of three of the nation’s leading nonprofit community development organizations. The authors describe their respective organizations’ roles in the CDBG program and share their vision for its future.

The 113th Congress were the second most unproductive Congress in history in terms of legislation passed and they presided over the third-longest government shutdown in history. However, this cynical yet popular view ignores many of the 113th Congress' accomplishments that had a measurable impact on housing and community development (HCD) programs, accomplishments to which NAHRO members directly contributed. Decision-making on prior budget and appropriations matters, especially the recent sequestration, had an enormous impact on the fate of HCD programs. In contrast, the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD) bill provided more responsible funding levels for T-HUD programs and, if enacted, would have begun to restore some of the spending cuts that had been made to HCD programs in recent years. Consequently, the 113th Congress taught us that the power of our voice is strong, and that we must continue to press forward in this new year and with this new Congress. Adapted from the source document.

As we begin our work with the new administration and the new Congress, NAHRO has much to be proud of. The year 2016 was one of the association's best advocacy years to date. In 2015, NAHRO advocates sent 1,418 letters to their members of Congress. In 2016, the number grew to 4,241 letters -- a whopping 199% increase. Unsurprisingly, the most popular topic NAHRO members contacted their legislators about in 2016 was funding for housing and community development (HCD) programs. Many in our membership are building or have already built the foundation for strong relationships with their Congressional offices, and have taken great strides in 2016 toward establishing themselves as resources to their legislators and defenders of HCD programs. Looking ahead, there are several points of intersection between NAHRO and its members, HUD and Members of Congress.

The 2015 New Year began with a new Congress and renewed hopes that a Republican-controlled House and Senate could be more productive than a divided Congress. It was a promising start; the President's budget was released on time and Congress approved a concurrent budget resolution for the first time in several years. In theory, regular order was achievable. In reality, it was not. By August and September, housing and other non-discretionary spending priorities were in a difficult place -- particularly the HOME program, which teetered on the brink of extinction. The House managed to approve half their bills (including the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development bill that funds HUD), but the Senate blocked the first appropriations bill they considered and ended their appropriations work for the year in June, citing the impossibly low budget cap.

The event culminated on Capitol Hill, where attendees met with more than 100 senators and representatives to discuss federal appropriations for the upcoming fiscal year, support for federal place-based programs that promote good planning, and the importance of advocating for urban parks and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. At the Daniel Burnham Forum on Big ideas, U-S- Department of Housing and Urban Development officials previewed the Prosperity Playhook, a new HUD initiative launched earlier this year in partnership with APA. HUD's Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Community Planning and Development, Harriet Tregoning, along with Mayors Sly James of Kansas City, Missouri, and Kasim Reed of Atlanta, led the discussion.

Lewis and Clark senior Matt Mitchell's question might have been the strangest the school board hopefuls have received during this election year. After [John Powers] spoke, Spokane City Council candidates were asked questions posed by Chase Youth Commission Teen Advisory Council members and by students in the audience. Topics included how to create a positive environment for Spokane's young people and whether people who commit hate crimes should be punished more harshly. The six candidates were each given one minute to respond to the questions. \"Those were the toughest questions I've encountered, and very thoughtful,\" said [Dave Rideout], a school board candidate. \"It's nice to get the youth's perspective.\"

I will live far from the familiarity and safety of Spokane. I will be on my own without a curfew. No parents will be there to nag, regulate or discipline me. The freedom to do whatever I want, whenever I want, will be mine in 11 months. I won't have to put up with petty high school problems, and I won't have to put up with my family. I will begin to appreciate what an interesting person she is, not just the mother who says I have to be home an hour earlier than I had hoped. I will begin to see the sacrifices she has made for my brother and me. I'm sure I will be amazed at how well she managed to raise us. That's not to say I don't see many of these things now. But sometimes they get lost in the chaos of everyday life. Her absence will make her presence more meaningful. Doing these things myself will make me recognize how difficult they often are.

8:52 p.m.: [Meghan] picks me up. After a half-hour conversation that did not end with us finding something to do, we decide to go to upper Manito Park to swing in hopes that others will join us. For some reason, everyone always seems to end up swinging at Manito. If we want to find something to do, Manito is our best chance. 10:12 p.m.: We are still swinging and the cops show up. These are not the neighborhood-on-patrol guys in Cadillacs and Buicks with flashlights. These are the real guys with spotlights and guns. Apparently there are no meth labs to bust tonight, so they have chosen to crack down on kids in the park 12 minutes after curfew. Mind you, we were not drinking, smoking pot or disturbing the peace in any way. We were merely swinging while trying to find something to do so we would not break the all-important park curfew. We exit the park without a fight. The cops can rest easy knowing they've kicked a bunch of upright kids out of a park. 10:27 p.m.: Driving away from the park to who knows where, Meghan's cell phone rings. Falling in line with many adults' suspicions of teenagers, some kids have decided to burn stuff and we are welcome to join them. Of course, the stuff is wood in a controlled fire pit near our friend's house on Sunset Hill, so we decide to head up there. Finally, we have something to do.

The Mercury attracts a diverse crowd: young professionals in suits, skateboarders with dread locks and teens with laptop computers. There are teens and young adults from all over Spokane -- north, south and the Valley -- an unusual occurrence in this regionally and economically segregated city. The Mercury, located at 706 N. Monroe, closes at 1 a.m., giving teens a safe late-night hangout. While the Mercury may be a long drive for some, its relatively cheap coffee, friendly staff and relaxed atmosphere make it more than worth the gas money. Color Photo; At the Mercury Cafe, friends (left to right) Stephanie Budge, 17, [Shadle], Jon Traugott, 19, WSU, Anna Black, 18, WSU, and Rick James, 17, of Rogers, enjoy lattes and conversation on a recent Friday night. Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review