HUD ANNOUNCES $7.2 MILLION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN MISSOURI

KANSAS CITY, KS - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced $7,173,674
to five communities in Missouri to support community development and produce more affordable housing.

"This funding represents HUD's continuing investment in helping our local partners improve their communities," said Donovan. "If we hope to lay the groundwork for sustainable growth and prosperity in the future, it's critical that we help state and local communities make the needed improvements and produce more affordable housing."

The communities and funding amounts announced today include:

Independence

$    756,440 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds; and
$    489,176 in HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funding.
$1,245,616 TOTAL

Joplin

$    654,039 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds; and
$    582,685 in HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funding.
$1,236,724 TOTAL

Lee's Summit

$313,771 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.

Springfield

$ 1,349,997 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds; and
$ 1,123,391 in HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funding.
$2,473,388 TOTAL

St. Joseph

$  1,729,815  in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds; and
$     488,131  in HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funding.
$ 2,217,946 TOTAL

Since 1974, HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program has provided approximately $124 billion to state and local governments to target their own community development priorities. The rehabilitation of affordable housing and the improvement of public facilities have traditionally been the largest uses of CDBG although the
program is also an important catalyst for job growth and business opportunities. Annual CDBG funds are distributed
to communities according to a statutory formula based on a community's population, poverty, and age of its housing stock, and extent of overcrowded housing.

HOME (HOME Investment Partnerships Program) is the largest federal block grant to state and local governments designed exclusively to produce affordable housing for low-income families. Since 1992, more than 600 communities have completed more than 900,000 affordable housing units, including 383,000 for new homebuyers. In addition, 209,000 tenants have received direct rental assistance.

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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.