The Office of Community Development is charged with coordinating housing and community development related activities in St. Louis County by administering federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funds received from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The OCD receives funds allocated to St. Louis County each year; approximately $4.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and $2.8 million in federal Home Investment Partnership program (HOME). These funds are utilized in participating municipalities and unincorporated areas throughout St. Louis County to carry out programs and activities which benefit low- and moderate-income households or eliminate slums and blighted conditions. Housing Programs, primarily using HOME funds, were designed to create solutions to abandoned, substandard and unaffordable housing stock by assisting in the development of housing for low and moderate income individuals and families. The St. Louis HOME Consortium was formed to assist in creating and maintaining affordable housing. The Consortia utilizes funds to provide down payment assistance to first time homebuyers in St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, O’Fallon and Florissant, and the City of St. Charles.