WASILLA SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AGENCY WINS $1.5 MILLION IN HUD GRANT
Complex will add eight units for very low-income persons with disabilities.

ANCHORAGE, AK - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded a $1,500,700 grant to Valley Residential Services under HUD's Section 811 program. This grant also includes a three-year rental subsidy of $143,400 per year, and Valley Residential Services plans to use the funding to develop an independent living project
in Wasilla. The project will have six one-bedroom units and two two-bedroom units, and will be available to very low-income persons who are developmentally disabled.

"Apartments such as those planned are in high demand," said Anchorage Field Office Director Colleen Bickford.
"There isn't enough affordable housing for the low-income, and certainly not enough for the very low-income individuals with developmental disabilities."

"We're delighted that Valley Residential Services won this grant and will be building new units," Bickford said.

The Alaska grant is one of more than $121.3 million in Section 811 housing assistance announced today by HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson.

"These grants will help the nation's very low-income people with disabilities find decent housing that they can
afford," said Jackson. "They should never have to worry about being able to find a safe place to live."

Section 811 Grants

This housing, most of which is newly constructed, typically is small apartment buildings, group homes for three to
four people per home, or condominium units. Residents pay 30 percent of their adjusted income for rent and the federal government will pay the rest.

The grants are awarded under HUD's Section 811 program, which 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.

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; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development, and 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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