HUD AWARDS IDAHO, OREGON & WASHINGTON HOUSING AUTHORITIES MORE THAN $1 MILLION TO PROTECT RENTAL ASSISTANCE VOUCHERS

SEATTLE - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced today that 14 housing authorities in Idaho, Oregon and Washington state will receive a total of $1,031,549 to protect the rental assistance provided to families currently participating in HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Program.

These agencies are among nearly 600 that will receive additional funding because they had additional leasing or experienced other unforeseen circumstances in 2009. HUD estimates this funding will keep almost 130 families across the Region in affordable housing.

"All across this country, nearly 20,000 families can breathe a sigh of relief," said Secretary Donovan. "This additional funding will help housing agencies to continue providing affordable housing."

The funding announced today is part of a $150 million set-aside from HUD's 2010 budget that will give public housing agencies additional funding that will help them support existing vouchers.

In the Northwest, the following public housing authorities received awards:

Last February HUD issued a noticeinforming public housing agencies that they could apply for this funding to adjust the allocations for agencies that experienced a significant increase in renewal costs of rental assistance resulting
from unforeseen circumstances or from families moving to higher cost areas; for adjustment for agencies with
voucher leasing rates at the end of 2009 that exceed the average leasing for federal fiscal year 2009 12-month
period used to establish the allocation; for adjustments for the costs associated with Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers; and for vouchers that were not in use during the Federal fiscal year 12- month period in order to be available to meet a commitment for project-based voucher assistance.

HUD reviewed approximately 1,000 submissions from agencies across the U.S. and awarded funding based on HUD's categories. Housing agencies that applied for funding will receive notifications of application status today. The Housing Choice Voucher Program is HUD's largest rental assistance program, with an almost $18.2 billion budget in 2010 to support some 2.1 million families with rental assistance that makes housing more affordable.

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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 ad enforces the nation's
fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.