BUSH ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES $3.4 MILLION IN HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS FOR LINCOLN, NEBRASKA
Funding Helps 25 New Families Find Affordable Housing

LINCOLN, NE - The City of Lincoln will receive $3,447,000 in federal assistance to stimulate local economies, promote affordable housing, and assist homeless persons, 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 funding announced today for Lincoln includes:

• $2,198,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds;
• $1,173,000 in Home Investment Partnership (HOME) funds; and
• $76,000 in Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) funds.

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.

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.

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 and espanol.hud.gov.

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