The Select Board approved town officials to pursue an $850,000 grant from the Community Development Block Grant Program at their March 4 meeting.

For the past 30 years, Wareham has received funding through the state grant program, with annual amounts ranging between $825,000 and $1.6 million over the past five years. The town generally spends the money on public social services, construction projects and generally addressing the needs of low and moderate-income families.

In the past, the grant has paid for things like the Bayview Park project in Onset but this year the town intends to focus the money on public social services and the Housing Rehabilitation Program.

Public social services include organizations like Damien’s Food Pantry and Turning Point, while the Housing Rehabilitation Program funds necessary home improvement projects for low and moderate-income homeowners.

Wayne Darragh, who is responsible for administering grants for the town of Wareham, told the Select Board on Tuesday night that demand for housing rehabilitation is high, with at least 55 outstanding applications to the program.

Darragh explained that the program focuses on bringing properties “up to code,” with priority given to plumbing, electrical, and weatherization issues.

The rising cost of rehabilitation in recent years has affected the number of homeowners the program can assist, Darragh noted.

“Housing rehabs costs are allowing us to only do half as many houses as we used to do,” He said.

This year, the town intends to fund up to five social service organizations, allocating 20% of the $850,000 — the maximum amount allowed by the program, according to Darragh.

In previous years, the grant has provided roughly $175,000 in total to the organizations with each receiving a portion based on need.

For example in 2024, the Buzzards Bay Coalition received $21,000 while Turning Point received $58,500.

“This does help those that need it the most in our community,” said Town Administrator Derek Sullivan. “Many people are struggling just to stay afloat let alone being able to do what they can on the properties. I think this is very representative of the goal of the grant.”