OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $13 MILLION TO HELP GEORGIA VERY LOW-INCOME ELDERLY AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

ATLANTA - Senior citizens and persons with disabilities in Georgia will soon be able to find additional affordable housing, thanks to more than $13 million in housing assistance announced today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funding will provide interest-free capital advances to non-profit developers so they can produce accessible housing, offer rental assistance, and provide supportive services for the elderly and persons with disabilities.

Nationwide, more than $550 million in these grants were announced today. They are provided through HUD's
Section 202 and Section 811 Supporting Housing programs and will fund 169 projects in 46 states.

"The Obama Administration is committed to making sure our senior citizens and persons with disabilities have opportunities to live in decent, affordable homes," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "Neither of these groups should ever have to worry about being able to find a safe place to live."

"This funding will help ensure that our senior citizens and persons with disabilities are cared for with decent,
affordable and accessible places to live," said Southeast Region Regional Administrator Edward Jennings, Jr.

Section 202 Capital Advance ($454.5 million nationwide to assist very low-income elderly)

HUD's Section 202 Capital Advance Program expands the supply of affordable housing with supportive services for
the elderly. It provides very low-income elderly persons 62 years of age or older with the opportunity to live independently in an environment that provides support services to frail elderly resident.

In addition to funding the construction, acquisition, and rehabilitation of multifamily developments, HUD's Section
202 program also provides Project Rental Assistance Contract (PRAC) funds to subsidize the rents so that residents only pay 30 percent of their adjusted incomes.

To be eligible for the assistance a household must be classified as "very low-income," which means an income less than 50 percent of the area median. Nationally, based on 50 percent of the national median family income with an applicable adjustment for household size, a one-person household would need to have an income equal to or less
than $22,400 a year.

Section 811 Capital Advance ($95.7 million nationwide to assist very low-income with disabilities)

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

Capital advance funds are awarded under HUD's Section 811 program, providing housing for households with one or more very low-income individuals with a disability. Under this program at least one person must be 18 years or older and have 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 provides persons with disabilities the opportunity 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 $13,450.

HUD provides the Section 202 and Section 811 funds to non-profit organizations in two forms:

• Capital Advances. This is funding that covers the cost of developing, acquiring, or rehabilitating the
  development. Repayment is not required as long as the housing remains available for occupancy by very
  low-income elderly persons for at least 40 years for (under Section 202) or very low-income persons with
  disabilities (under Section 811).
  
  
• Project Rental Assistance Contract (PRAC). This is funding that goes to each development to cover
  the difference between the residents' contributions toward rent and the HUD-approved cost of operating
  the project.

Georgia

Section 202 - Supportive Housing for the Elderly

Project Location: Atlanta, GA
Non-Profit Sponsor: National Church Residences
Capital Advance: $3,906,300
Three-year rental subsidy: $343,200
Number of units: 36
Project Description:
The funds will be used to construct a three-story building containing 35 one-bedroom units for very low-income elderly persons and one two-bedroom unit for a resident manager. The design will be located in close proximity to services such as medical, dental, pharmacy, shopping, and public transportation that will offer a variety of opportunities for the residents to function independently.

Project Location: Cairo, GA
Non-Profit Sponsor: Family Worship Center Church of God
Capital Advance: $1,443,200
Three-year rental subsidy: $137,400
Number of units: 14
Project Description:
The funds will be utilized to construct 14 one-bedroom independent living units for elderly residents in four one-
story buildings. The site will provide various opportunities for social interaction and recreation by the residents.
This independent living project will be equipped with a community building, laundry facilities, a gazebo and
manager's office. Various supportive services, such as meals and transportation services, safety programs, an
activity program, and ancillary services will be available to enhance the lives of the residents.

Project Location: Savannah, GA
Non-Profit Sponsor: United Church Residence
Capital Advance: $4,337,800
Three-year rental subsidy: $382,200
Number of units: 40
Project Description:
The funds will be used to construct a three-story building containing 49 one-bedroom units for very low-income elderly persons and one two-bedroom unit for a resident manager. The design will be located in close proximity to services such as medical, dental, pharmacy, shopping, and public transportation that will offer a variety of opportunities for the residents to function independently.

Georgia

Section 811 - Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities

Project Location: Austell, GA
Non-Profit Sponsor: Right in the Community, Inc.
Capital Advance: $428,800
Three-year rental subsidy: $39,300
Number of units: 4
Project Description:
The funds will be used to construct a four-bedroom group home for very low-income persons with physical or developmental disabilities. The site is in an established neighborhood surrounded by areas with many amenities. It
is accessible by regular transit and para-transit services and is close to vocational, educational and recreational services. Residents will have the ability to blend into the surrounding community yet have the accessibility features and the availability of supportive services that allows them to live independently.

Project Location: Macon, GA
Non-Profit Sponsor: Advocacy Resource Center-Macon, Inc.
Capital Advance: $428,800
Three-year rental subsidy: $39,300
Number of units: 4
Project Description:
The funds will be used to construct a four-unit group home for very low-income persons with physical or developmental disabilities. The site is in an established neighborhood surrounded by areas with many amenities. It
is accessible by regular transit and para-transit services and is close to vocational, educational and recreational services. Residents will have the ability to blend into the surrounding community yet have the accessibility features and the availability of supportive services that allows them to live independently.

Project Location: Macon, GA
Non-Profit Sponsor: Georgia Behavioral Services, Inc.
Capital Advance: $1,198,800
Three-year rental subsidy: $98,100
Number of units: 10
Project Description:
The funds will be used to construct an independent living project with 10 one-bedroom units for very low-income persons with physical disabilities. The site is surrounded by single family residential properties and is within one mile from restaurants, grocery, and retail stores. This model allows residents to blend into the surrounding community
yet provides the accessibility features and the availability of supportive services that allow them to live independently.

Project Location: Macon, GA
Non-Profit Sponsor: Advocacy Resource Center-Macon, Inc.
Capital Advance: $428,800
Three-year rental subsidy: $39,300
Number of units: 4
Project Description:
The funds will be used to construct a 4 unit group home for very low-income persons with physical or
developmental disabilities. The site is in an established neighborhood surrounded by areas of many amenities. It
is accessible by regular transit and para-transit services and is close to vocational, educational and recreational services. Residents will have the ability to blend into the surrounding community yet have the accessibility features and the availability of supportive services that allows them to live independently.

Project Location: Marietta, GA
Non-Profit Sponsor: Right in the Community, Inc.
Capital Advance: $428,800
Three-year rental subsidy: $39,300
Number of units: 4
Project Description:
The funds will be used to construct a four-unit group home for very low-income persons with physical or developmental disabilities. The site is in an established neighborhood surrounded by areas with many amenities. It
is accessible by regular transit and para-transit services and is close to vocational, educational and recreational services. Residents will have the ability to blend into the surrounding community yet have the accessibility features and the availability of supportive services that allows them to live independently.

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.