NEW MEXICO RECEIVES MORE THAN $5.7 MILLION TO BUILD HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME ELDERLY AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Albuquerque and Tucumcari Receive Housing Assistance Grants

ALBUQUERQUE - It will soon be easier for senior citizens and people with disabilities to find affordable housing in
New Mexico, thanks to $5,779,000 in housing assistance grants announced today by U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson. Nationally, more than $643 million in grants was awarded. A list of the
New Mexico grantees and project summaries follows.

"This Administration is committed to making sure our senior citizens and people with disabilities have opportunities
to find decent housing that they can afford," said Jackson. "Neither group should ever have to worry about being
able to find a safe place to live."

Section 202 Grants ($518.9 million nationwide to assist very low-income elderly)

HUD's Section 202 grants program helps expand the supply of affordable housing with supportive services for the elderly by funding the construction and/or rehabilitation of projects to create apartments. In addition, these grants will subsidize rents for three years so that residents will pay only 30 percent of their adjusted incomes as rent. Section 202 grants provide very low-income elderly with options that allow them to live independently but in an environment that provides support activities such as cleaning, cooking, and transportation.

To be eligible for the assistance a household must be classified as "very low-income," which means an income less than 50 percent of the area median. Nationally, based on 50 percent of the national median family income with an applicable adjustment for household size, a one-person household would need to have an income equal to or less
than $20,850 a year.

Section 811 Grants ($124.8 million nationwide to assist very low-income people with disabilities)

HUD's Section 811 program allows persons with disabilities to live independently in their communities by increasing
the supply of rental housing with the availability of supportive services by funding the construction and/or rehabilitation of projects to create apartments. In addition, these grants will subsidize rents for three years so that residents will pay only 30 percent of their adjusted incomes as rent.

Under the 811 program, at least one person in the household must be at least 18 years old and have a disability,
such as a physical or developmental disability or chronic mental illness. The term "person with disability" also
includes two or more people with disabilities living together, and one or more persons with disabilities living with
one or more live-in attendants.

To be classified as "very low-income," a household income cannot exceed 50 percent of the area median income. However, most households that receive Section 811 assistance have an income less than 30 percent of the area median. Generally, this means that a one-person household will have an annual income of about $12,550.

HUD provides the Section 202 and Section 811 funds to non-profits in two forms:

• Capital advances. This is money that covers the cost of developing the housing. It does not need to be
  repaid as long as the housing is available for at least 40 years for occupancy by very low-income seniors
  (under Section 202) or very low-income people with disabilities (under Section 811).
  
  
• Project rental assistance. This is money that goes to each non-profit group to cover the difference
  between the residents' contributions toward rent and the cost of operating the project.

Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly

Project Description:
Located in the Near Heights section of Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Section 202 funds will be used to construct
40 one-bedroom units for very low-income elderly persons. The facility will be a four- story building, surrounded by single-family and multifamily residential developments. Several health facilities, restaurants, and grocery stores are located within close proximity of the site.
Contact: James Broder, (207) 774-9000

Section 811 - Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities

Project Description:
These 10 units comprised of six one-bedroom and four two-bedroom units which will house 14 very low income persons with disabilities. It will also house a manager in one of the two-bedroom units. The new structure is to be attractively positioned, and with the appropriate height, scale and mass, will blend in the adjacent environment
and urban fabric of the neighborhood. The site is ideal for potential residents as it is close to public transportation, health and social facilities, as well as the great mountain vistas.
Contact: John Bloomfield, (505) 293-7553

Project Description:
The funds will be used to rehabilitate two duplexes and construct an additional four one-bedroom units for eight persons with physical disabilities. There will be a mixture of one and two-bedroom units, totaling eight units. The community building will be located at a central location so that all residents have access, consisting of an onsite manager's office and laundry/maintenance facility.
Contact: Sandra Hidalgo, (505) 763-8335

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