Butler County commissioners will receive $500,000 from the HOME Investment Partnership Program, a state Department of Community and Economic Development program, to rehabilitate existing owner-occupied housing in Butler.

The city of Butler is also receiving $300,000 for existing owner-occupied housing. Both entities are receiving the funds in partnership with their respective redevelopment authorities, according to a news release from the DCED.

HOME is a federally funded program that provides municipalities with grant and loan assistance to expand and preserve the supply of decent and affordable housing for low- and very low-income Pennsylvanians.

HOME program funds can be used in a variety of ways to address critical housing needs, including market-oriented approaches that offer opportunities such as homeownership or rental activities to revitalize communities with new investment. DCED receives HOME program funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the annual entitlement appropriation process, according to a news release from the DCED.