HUD
No.09-03 Marie Shattuck (716) 551-5733 |
For
Release Thursday September 18, 2003 |
HUD DELIVERS ALMOST $4 MILLION IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING FUNDS FOR ONONDAGA COUNTY
HUD grants invest in people and places in need
BUFFALO - Onondaga County will receive $3,945,834 in federal assistance through the Department of Housing and Urban Development to stimulate local economies, produce affordable housing, and help the homeless. In making today's announcement, HUD's Regional Director Marisel Morales said the funding signals HUD's commitment to helping local communities design their own plan to help lower income families.
"The funding we announce today is an investment in Onondaga
County's future - promoting economic development and job growth,
increasing the supply of affordable housing, and helping our most
vulnerable neighbors." said
Morales. "This funding is
evidence of HUD's continuing commitment to provide communities with
resources to meet
the particular needs of their residents."
The funding announced today includes:
- $2,923,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
funds (including $368,000 for the Town of Clay, a joint
grantee with the County). Approximately 46% of these funds are
allocated to homebuyer and housing rehabilitation activities,
with another 36% allocated to 20 different public works projects
in
communities throughout the County's CDBG Consortium. The balance of funds is allocated to commercial rehabilitation, public services, planning and program administration.
- $939,834 in Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) funding,
of which 75% will be used for housing rehabilitation, with the
balance for homebuyer assistance and program administration.
- $83,000 in Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG), providing
assistance to 7 different programs and homeless shelters. Approximately
53% of the grant will support shelter operations, with another
36% allocated to
human services, and the balance to homelessness prevention and program administration.
own economic development priorities. The rehabilitation of affordable housing has traditionally been the largest
single use of the grants although CDBG is also an important catalyst for job growth and business opportunities for lower income families and neighborhoods.
HOME (Home Investment Partnerships Program) is the largest
federal block grant to state and local governments designed exclusively
to create affordable housing for low-income households. Since 1992,
nearly 700,000 affordable housing units have been acquired, constructed
or rehabilitated and nearly 70,000 tenants have received direct
rental assistance. In addition, more than 200,000 new homebuyers
have received assistance to purchase their first homes through the
HOME program.
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.
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