HUD AWARDS $20 MILLION TO REVITALIZE AGED WASHINGTON BEECH PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN BOSTON
HOPE VI grant to replace 57-year-old complex with new mixed-income neighborhood

BOSTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson today awarded the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) a $20 million grant to support the redevelopment of the nearly 60-year-old Washington Beech
public housing complex into an attractive mixed-income community.

"This funding not only gives cities the resources to build quality affordable housing in these communities, it also improves the quality of life of the residents who live in the public housing," said Jackson. "I'm glad Boston will once again use HOPE VI funds to transform neighborhoods and lives."

HUD's HOPE VI Revitalization grant will enable BHA to demolish the 266-unit development and replace it with 139
public housing units and 126 affordable rental units. The redevelopment plan also includes 71 affordable homes for purchase.

BHA was selected from a pool of 29 applications HUD received from public housing authorities (PHAs) across the country. Including this grant, BHA has been awarded four HOPE VI Revitalization grants. Other grantees that
received grants for the 2007 funding round are housing authorities in Washington, D.C. Fayetteville, N.C., New Orleans, and Phoenix, AZ. Including these grants, HUD has awarded 242 HOPE VI Revitalization grants since 1993
to 128 PHAs that total approximately $5.9 billion.

BHA will pay relocation and reoccupancy costs for residents as needed. Affected residents can relocate to other public housing or receive a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) to subsidize their rent in privately owned housing. Relocated residents are given the opportunity to move back to the newly constructed units. Alternatively, if
residents choose not to return to public housing, they may keep their voucher. In addition, relocated residents will
get job training and other support services under the Community and Supportive Services component of the HOPE
VI grant.

HUD's HOPE VI Program was created in 1992 following a report by the National Commission on Severely Distressed Public Housing, which concluded that approximately 86,000 public housing units in the U.S. needed revitalization.

PHAs are competitively selected for HOPE VI grants based on many factors including the effectiveness and project readiness of their revitalization plans. HUD gives PHAs the flexibility to develop revitalization plans that meet their
local needs. Among other criteria, grantees are also awarded funds based on the capacity of the housing authority and its developer to administer and manage completion of the revitalization effort; the severity of physical distress
of the development; the ability of the housing authority to supplement the HOPE VI grant with funding from other sources, private, state or local government; and the ability to provide supportive services to displaced residents.

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HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet
and espanol.hud.gov.