OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $22.3 MILLION TO HELP OHIO VERY LOW-INCOME ELDERLY AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

JULY 13 - Senior citizens and persons with disabilities in Ohio will soon be able to find additional affordable housing, thanks to more than $22.3 million in housing assistance announced today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funding will provide interest-free capital advances to non-profit developers so they can produce accessible housing, offer rental assistance, and provide supportive services for the elderly and persons with disabilities.

Nationwide, more than $550 million in the grants were announced today. They are provided through HUD's Section
202 and Section 811 Supportive Housing programs and will fund 169 projects in 46 states.

"The Obama Administration is committed to making sure our senior citizens and persons with disabilities have opportunities to live in decent, affordable homes," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "Neither of these groups should ever have to worry about being able to find a safe place to live."

Section 202 Capital Advance ($454.5 million nationwide to assist very low-income elderly)

HUD's Section 202 Capital Advance Program expands the supply of affordable housing with supportive services for
the elderly. It provides very low-income elderly persons 62 years of age or older with the opportunity to live independently in an environment that provides support services to frail elderly resident.

In addition to funding the construction, acquisition, and rehabilitation of multifamily developments, HUD's Section 202 program also provides Project Rental Assistance Contract (PRAC) funds to subsidize the rents so that residents only pay 30 percent of their adjusted incomes.

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 $22,400 a year. See Ohio projects below.

Section 811 Capital Advance ($95.7 million nationwide to assist very low-income with disabilities)

This housing, most of which will be newly constructed, typically is small apartment buildings, group homes for three
to four people per home, or condominium units. Residents will pay 30 percent of their adjusted income for rent and
the federal government will pay the rest.

Capital advance funds are awarded under HUD's Section 811 program, providing housing for households with one or more very low-income individuals with a disability. Under this program at least one person must be 18 years or older and have a physical or developmental disability or chronic mental illness. The term "person with disabilities" 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.The program provides persons with disabilities the opportunity to live independently in
their communities by increasing the supply of rental housing with the availability of supportive services.

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 $13,450. See Ohio projects below:

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

• Capital Advances. This is funding that covers the cost of developing, acquiring, or rehabilitating the development. Repayment is not required as long as the housing remains available for occupancy by very low-income elderly persons for at least 40 years for (under Section 202) or very low-income persons with
  disabilities (under Section 811).
  
  
• Project Rental Assistance Contract (PRAC). This is funding that goes to each development to cover the difference between the residents' contributions toward rent and the HUD-approved cost of operating the project.

Projects funded in Ohio include:

Section 202

Project Description: The funds will be used to construct 39 one-bedroom units for very low-income elderly persons and one two-bedroom unit for a resident manager. The site is in close proximity to shopping, medical offices, etc.

Project Description: The funds will be used to construct 40 one-bedroom independent living units for very low-income elderly persons adjacent to an existing independent living for low-income elderly project. The project is designed with community space that has multipurpose uses and includes a small kitchen in addition to a smaller room for private counseling, screening and other supportive services activities. The design is planned to achieve accessibility, visitability, energy efficiencies and green development standards.

Project Description: The funds will be used to construct 11 one-bedroom units for very low-income elderly persons. The site is in close proximity to shopping, medical offices, etc.

Project Description: The funds will be used to construct 23 one-bedroom units for the very low-income elderly and one two-bedroom unit for a resident manager. The site is in close proximity to shopping, medical offices, etc.

Project Description: The funds will be used to construct 11 one-bedroom units for very low-income elderly persons. The site is in close proximity to shopping, medical offices, etc.

Project Description: The funds will be used to construct 19 one-bedroom units for the very low-income elderly and 1 two-bedroom unit for a resident manager. The site is in close proximity to shopping, medical offices and other amenities and services.

Section 811

Project Description: The funds will be used to construct an independent living project with 8 one-bedroom units for physically and developmentally disabled very low-income individuals. The site is in close proximity to shopping,
medical offices, and other supportive services.

Project Description: The funds will be used to construct an independent living project with 10 one-bedroom units for chronically mentally ill very low-income individuals. The site is in close proximity to shopping, medical offices, and other supportive services.

Project Description: The Warren Plaza project will provide 10 one-bedroom units of independent living for low income individuals with chronic mental illness. The project will be designed to incorporate green development, handicap accessibility, and visitability features as well as the utilization of energy efficient HVAC systems and appliances. Supportive services will be available to tenants.

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HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to sustaining homeownership; 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 at www.hud.govand espanol.hud.gov.