ANCHORAGE HOUSING INITIATIVES GAINS MORE THAN $2 MILLION IN HOUSING FUNDS FOR DISABLED

ANCHORAGE - Colleen Bickford, Anchorage field office director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, announced today a grant of $1,857,500 to Anchorage Housing Initiatives to build a 10-unit
independent living project for the physically and developmentally disabled, and for chronically mentally ill individuals. An additional five-year rental subsidy of $301,500 is also a part of the overall grant. Residents will pay 30 percent
of their adjusted income for rent and the federal government will pay the rest from this subsidy.

AHI plans to construct the 10 units on two sites. One site will have three one-bedroom units for residents and a
two-bedroom unit for a resident manager. The second site will have five one-bedroom units for residents and a two-bedroom unit for a resident manager.

"Americans with disabilities make contributions to our society every day," Bickford said, "and they should not have
to worry about being able to afford a decent place to live. This grant will help achieve that goal."

The Alaska grant is part of $135.8 million nationally in HUD Section 811 grants. The Section 811 program provides housing for households with one or more very low-income individuals, at least one of whom is at least 18 years old and has a disability, such as a physical or developmental disability or chronic mental illness. The term "person with disabilities" also includes two or more people with disabilities living together, and one or more persons with disabilities living with one or more live-in attendants. The program allows persons with disabilities to live independently in their communities by increasing the supply of rental housing with the availability of supportive services.

To be classified as "very low-income," a household income cannot exceed 50 percent of the area median income. However, most households that receive Section 811 assistance have an income less than 30 percent of the area median. Generally, this means that a one-person household will have an annual income of about $12,180.

HUD provides the Section 811 funds to non-profits in two forms:

• Capital advances. This is money that covers the cost of developing the housing. It does not need to be
  repaid as long as the housing is available for at least 40 years for occupancy by very low-income people
  with disabilities.



• Project rental assistance. This is money that goes to each non-profit group to cover the difference
  between the residents' contributions toward rent and the cost of operating the project.

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 and espanol.hud.gov.

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