HUD
No. 04-17 Adam Glantz (212) 264-1100 |
For
Release Thursday April 29, 2004 |
BUSH ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES OVER $5 MILLION TO STIMULATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING IN ERIE COUNTY
HUD grants targeted to lower income persons and families in need
NEW YORK - Erie County will receive over $5 million in funding
from the Department of Housing and Urban
Development to stimulate
its economy, produce affordable housing, and help the homeless.
HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson said the funding represents another
investment in improving the living conditions for Erie County's
lower income families.
"This Administration is committed to promoting economic development
and job growth, increasing the supply of affordable housing, and
helping our most vulnerable neighbors," said Jackson. "These
funds will serve as a catalyst
for low-income families trying to
cross the threshold into homeownership and reinforces our commitment
to
rebuilding entire communities."
The funding announced today includes:
- $3,749,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds;
- $1,243,449 in Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) funding; and
- $124,004 in Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG).
For the past 30 years, HUD's Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) Program has awarded over $100 billion
to state and local
governments to target their own community development priorities.
CDBG is one of HUD's oldest
and most popular programs. 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. CDBG funds are distributed
by formula around the country based on a community's population,
income levels, poverty rates and the age of its housing stock.
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 committed to produce nearly 785,000 affordable housing units, including almost 300,000 for new homebuyers purchasing their first home. In addition, over 100,000 tenants have received direct rental assistance.
Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) help local communities
to meet the basic shelter needs of homeless individuals
and families.
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. This block grant program,
in concert with more than $1 billion HUD awards by competition,
helps thousands of local homeless assistance programs to help those
who would otherwise call the streets their home.
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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