BEAUMONT, Texas — Beaumont is one of several cities across the country fighting to receive major federal funding to build new affordable housing.
Only 30 cities will be chosen and the City of Beaumont needs input from the public to help push their application for federal funding to the top.
The city looks into every grant opportunity to provide affordable housing options.
One of the grants is called PRO or the "Pathway to Removing Obstacles housing application" through the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
This grant is unique because the city doesn't have to match the $7 million grant they'd receive.
12News spoke with the City of Beaumont employees about the process of receiving federal funding to construct affordable housing in the area.
"The City of Beaumont knows that we have a lot of residents that are struggling with affordable housing," said Beaumont Community Services Manager Jes Prince.
Prince says the city took the opportunity to apply for the $7 million grant.
"Even though we are not a prioritized geography for this opportunity, we want to take a shot at it," she said.
The "Pathways to Removing Obstacles" grant is through the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
"We want to give our community an opportunity to benefit," said Prince.
The city says there's a number of barriers to affordable housing for families in Beaumont.
"Lack of affordable inventory, prohibitive costs, the cost of construction for developers to actually deliver affordable housing units," said Prince.
Beaumont resident Samuel Juneau says affordable homes are needed at the moment.
"We need them badly," said Juneau.
The city plans to build 16 new cottage-style single family homes for first-time home buyers with part of the funding.
"Personally, I don't own my own home yet, and I'm getting [a] home, you know," said Juneau. "And I would want to leave, if I should expire before my wife, I want her to have somewhere to live."
The rest of the money would go to building a transitional housing shelter for families in need.
"So, for those that are experiencing difficulty finding affordable housing, we want you, to hear from you," said Prince. "For developers that are working toward or desire to deliver affordable units, we'd like to hear from them."
The city is asking for input from citizens.
"Offer perspective that the writers of this application may not have thought of, and we do want to be as compelling and authentic, and direct as possible about the challenges that residents here are experiencing," said Prince. "So, having this feedback is very strengthening to our efforts."
Prince says each comment counts.
You can send an email, show up and write a letter at City Hall or speak at the public hearing at City Council on October 1 at 1:30 p.m.
You will have until October 3 to give your input.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.