COSTA MESA : City Distributes $1 Million From U.S.

Several programs aimed at helping needy residents received a financial boost this week when the City Council distributed more than $1 million in federal housing money.

Most of the money, allocated annually to the city by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, will go toward sprucing up low-income neighborhoods, while local service groups will get more than $130,000. Nearly $300,000 allocated this week by the council was left over from last year.

Home Sweet Home, a grouping of neighborhood cleanup programs including everything from tool rentals to home beautification, received one of the largest grants, $201,600. Another top recipient was the city housing rehabilitation program, which provides deferred and low-interest loans to low- and moderate-income residents. According to city staff members, 30 homes could be upgraded under the loan plan.