The Community Development/Housing Department develops and administers community development and housing programs on behalf of the Urban County Consortium and Tarrant County Commissioners Court. Using a variety of funding sources, the department creates innovative and comprehensive programs to meet the County's housing and community development needs.

Programs are funded under the following federal grants: Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnership, Emergency Solutions Grant, Continuum of Care and HOPWA-Competitive. The department works closely with local cities to undertake public works construction projects in low-income residential neighborhoods. Street and waterline replacement activities have a significant impact on cities’ aging infrastructure. In addition, parks, senior centers and handicapped facilities have been substantially improved across the area. Participating cities cooperate under the umbrella of the Mayors' Council of Tarrant County on behalf of Commissioners Court.

Housing programs include owner-occupied single-family housing rehabilitation, new construction, the acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable housing. The department contracts with local non-profit community-based development organizations to undertake affordable housing activities. Community Development/Housing works together with the Tarrant County Housing Department in planning and monitoring Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance programs.

As part of its efforts to combat homelessness, the department supports several local emergency shelters and administers rapid re-housing and permanent supportive housing programs through local service providers. These programs are designed to provide affordable, decent and safe livable conditions along with supportive services to give homeless individuals and families every opportunity to break out of the cycle of homelessness.

Every five years the department publishes a Consolidated Plan and Assessment of Fair Housing, which includes demographic and community-wide data, as well as an annual action plan, which describes the County's affordable housing and community development plans for the year.