HUD ANNOUNCES $216,000 GRANT TO LAUREL TO DEMOLISH AGING PUBLIC HOUSING TO MAKE WAY FOR REVITALIZATION

JACKSON, MS - The U.S. Department of Housing Urban Development today awarded a $216,000 HOPE VI Demolition grant to the Housing Authority of the City of Laurel that will be used to demolish aged public housing to make way
for revitalization.

In Laurel, the grant for West Beacon Homes will demolish 36 older public housing units. HOPE VI Demolition grants assist public housing authorities (PHAs) to demolish severely distressed public housing and provide relocation and other supportive services for residents.

"These grants will allow Laurel to remove these eyesores and be the impetus to improve the site and surrounding neighborhood," said HUD Secretary Mel Martinez.

Laurel was selected from a pool of 102 applications HUD received for the 2002 HOPE VI Demolition funding. The 102 applications came from 62 PHAs, as housing authorities can apply for multiple grants under this program. The 2002 grants will fund the demolition of more than 5,700 older public housing units.

Not including the current grants, HUD has awarded 177 grants to 90 housing authorities in 31 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands - totaling more than $293 million to demolish more than 44,000 severely distressed public housing units.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities, creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans, supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as
enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet.

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