HUD ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $7 MILLION TO HELP HOUSE VERY LOW-INCOME ELDERLY AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN LOUISIANA
Lake Charles, New Iberia Receive Grants

NEW ORLEANS - Very low-income senior citizens and persons with disabilities in Louisiana will be able to find
affordable housing thanks to $7,059,400 in grants announced today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funding will provide non-profit developers interest-free capital advances to produce accessible housing, offer rental assistance, and provide supportive services for the elderly and persons with disabilities through HUD's Section 202 and Section 811 grant programs. Nationally, $650 million in grants was awarded. A list of
grantees and award amounts follows.

Section 202 Capital Advance ($525.9 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 persons 62-years and older with the opportunity to live independently in
an environment that provides the services they need. In addition to funding the construction, acquisition, and rehabilitation of multifamily developments, HUD's Section 202 program subsidizes the rents of senior citizens so
they can limit their housing costs to only pay 30 percent of their incomes.

Section 811 Capital Advance ($124.5 million nationwide to assist very low-income people with disabilities)

Housing constructed using interest-free capital advances under HUD's Section 811 Program are primarily used in smaller newly constructed buildings, typically group homes for three to four people, or condominium units. Eligible residents pay 30 percent of their income for rent and the federal government will pay the rest. Households must
have one or more very low-income adult with physical or developmental disability or living with chronic mental
illness.

The term "person with disabilities" may also include two or more people with disabilities living together, or 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.

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.
  
  
• 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.

The Louisiana grantees are:

Section 202 - Supportive Housing for the Elderly

The funds will be used to construct forty one (41) one bedroom units for very low income elderly, and one (1) two-bedroom managers unit. The project will be built in a one story cottage style configuration with a central hallway.
The development will consist of several buildings which will include an office, maintenance area, and community space. The building will be fully handicapped accessible, addressing issues of visitability and universality, and will facilitate long term delivery of supportive services for the next 20 to 30 years. Contact: Sonya Caraway, 337-474-2583.

The funds will be used to construct 10 one-bedroom units for very-low income elderly persons, and a two-bedroom unit for a resident manager. The project will be built in a one story configuration. The design of the building is intended to facilitate accessibility issues of universality and visitability as well as the delivery of services to the residents in an economical fashion for the next 20-30 years. The project will have a convenient first floor laundry room and a community room with warming kitchen. Contact: Bernel Fontenot, 337-261-5650.

Section 811 - Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities

The funds will be used to construct 15 one-bedroom units for very-low income physically disabled persons, and a
two-bedroom unit for a resident manager. The project will be built in a one story configuration. The design of the building is intended to facilitate accessibility issues of universality and visitability as well as the delivery of services
to the residents in an economical fashion for the next 20-30 years. The project will have convenient onsite laundry facilities, and a community room with warming kitchen. Contact: Phillip Bourgeois, 337-948-1254.

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