HUD AWARDS DIOCESE OF LAFAYETTE IN BASILE $78,000 TO HELP DEVELOP HOUSING FOR VERY LOW-INCOME ELDERLY IN LOUISIANA

NEW ORLEANS - The Diocese of Lafayette in Basile, Louisiana, has received a $78,750 grant for pre-development
of a housing project for low-income elderly residents. It is one of 63 senior housing developments in 30 states
across the nation that received critically needed funding to get their projects off the ground thanks to more than
$17 million in "pre-development" grants that were announced today by HUD Regional Director A. Cynthia Leon. The grants were awarded to the 63 project sponsors under HUD's Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly
Program.

"This funding will help these organizations cope with the complexities of developing vitally important elderly housing projects in their communities," said Leon. "These funds can make all the difference between these senior housing developments getting built or not. In many respects, it's our way of investing in our elderly just as they devoted so much of themselves to us."

Section 202 Demonstration Planning Grants (DPG) provide upfront funds for such predevelopment activities as architectural and engineering work, site control, and other expenses related to the development of the projects
prior to initial closing. Without the grant funding, such costs would not be reimbursable until closing or would have
to come from other funding sources.

Project sponsors awarded "pre-development" grants are required to complete their elderly housing development processing within 18 months.

Last October, HUD awarded the Diocese a $1.1 million Section 202 grant to construct a development of 11 one-bedroom units and one managers unit for very low-income elderly persons. The location and design will facilitate
the integration of the residents into the surrounding community, and transportation and supportive services will be provided to tenants. Today's funding is in addition to the October grant.

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