HUD AWARDS $4,415,787 IN HOPE VI GRANTS TO FOUR FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TO DEMOLISH DISTRESSED PUBLIC HOUSING
Demolition Makes Way for Community Revitalization

MIAMI - The U.S. Department of Housing Urban Development today awarded $4,415,787 in HOPE VI Demolition
grants to four housing authorities in the State of Florida. The funds will demolish 586 aged public housing in Clearwater, Dunedin, Lake Wales and Tallahassee. (Details on attached page)

I was part of the Congressionally-appointed commission that created the HOPE VI program a little more than 10
years ago," said HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson. "I'm pleased that Clearwater, Dunedin, Lake Wales and
Tallahassee are four of the 45 cities that will get funding this year to demolish these old properties to make way
for community revitalization.

The Florida cities were selected from a pool of 57 applications HUD received for the 2003 HOPE VI Demolition
funding. The $45,810,291 in grants awarded to 45 housing authorities for this grant round will fund the demolition
of 5,954 older public housing units.

Since the HOPE VI Demolition program began in 1996 and including the grants awarded today, HUD has awarded 263 grants to 122 housing authorities in 32 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. Including the grants awarded today, housing authorities have received more than $381 million in HOPE VI Demolition grants to demolish nearly 56,000 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; and 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.

FY 2003 HOPE VI Demolition Grant Awards in Florida