HUD No. 02-009PH | For
Release Wednesday July 17, 2002 |
BUSH ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $6.5 MILLION IN
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS FOR HAWAII
SAN FRANCISCO - Hawaii will receive more that $6.5 million in federal assistance to stimulate local economies, promote affordable housing, help the homeless and assist families and individuals with HIV/AIDS, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez announced today.
"These grants do so much good for so many people," Martinez said.
"This money helps communities do the critical work of stimulating
business development and job growth, providing affordable housing
and helping our most
vulnerable neighbors."
The funds are awarded through four different programs: Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds; Home Investment Partnership
(HOME) Funds; Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) funds; and, Housing
Opportunities for
Persons with AIDS (HOPWA).
First awarded in 1974, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds enable state and local governments to target their own economic development priorities. Although the rehabilitation of affordable housing has traditionally been the largest single use of the grants, the program is also an increasingly important catalyst for economic development activities that expand job and business opportunities for lower income families and neighborhoods.
HOME (Home Investment Partnerships Program) is the largest federal
block grant to state and local governments designed exclusively
to create affordable housing for low-income households. Since 1992,
more than a half million affordable housing units have been acquired,
constructed or rehabilitated and nearly 70,000 tenants have received
direct rental assistance. In addition, more than 200,000 new homebuyers
have received assistance to purchase
their first homes through the
HOME program.
Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) help communities meet the basic
shelter needs of homeless individuals and
families. Part of HUD's
award-winning Continuum of Care initiative, these grants also provide
transitional housing
and a variety of support services designed
to move the homeless away from a life on the street toward permanent
housing.
HOPWA grants are distributed based on the number of AIDS cases
as reported to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. The
grants expand housing opportunities, provide rental assistance,
and support services to individuals with HIV/AIDS and their families.
In addition, the HOPWA program also helps many communities develop
strategic AIDS housing plans and fill in gaps in local systems of
care.
HUD's block grant programs are distributed by formula around the country based on criteria including population, income levels, poverty rates and age of housing stock.
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 at www.hud.gov.
Note to editors: Communities that choose to receive their
block grants at other times of the year are not
included in today's
announcement.
Grants in Hawaii include:
State of Hawaii
HOME $3,008,000
ESG $175,000
HOPWA $160,000
Total $3,343,000Hawaii County
CDBG $2,304,000Kauai County
CDBG $924,000
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