HUD AWARDS $194,000 EMERGENCY DISASTER GRANT TO PAHOKEE HOUSING AUTHORITY

MIAMI - The Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that it is awarding a $194,833 Emergency Disaster Grant to the Pahokee Housing Authority for window replacement at Padgett Island Homes.

From the installation of a set of windows in 2009, Pahokee Housing Authority's housing manager noticed that the windows malfunctioned. Many of the windows are egress and their malfunctioning can prohibit a tenant from exiting the units in the event of an emergency. HUD classified the window replacement as emergency work because of the limited capital funding that is currently available to the Pahokee Housing authority, which results in an unpreventable emergency endangering the lives and safety of the residents at Padgett Island Homes.

"This funding allows the residents of Padgett Island Homes to benefit from improved windows in a way that not only reduces threats to emergency egress, but also strengthens its energy efficiency and lowers utility costs," said José Cintrón, HUD Field Office Director for South Florida.

Capital Fund Emergency/Natural Disaster Funding is a reserve created for physical work items resulting from an unpreventable or unforeseen emergency that pose an immediate threat to life, health, or safety of residents, or property (including fire safety), and that must be corrected within one year of funding. Emergencies are funded through a special set aside of the Capital Fund which for FY15 is $17 million.

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