HUD ANNOUNCES OVER $2.5 MILLION IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN CHARLESTON, SC

COLUMBIA - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced the City of Charleston will receive more than $2,548,368 million to support community development and produce more affordable housing. HUD's annual funding will also help find homes for individuals and families living on the streets and provide permanent housing for individuals living HIV/AIDS.

"This funding provides the building blocks needed to improve communities," said Donovan. "Now, more than ever,
these grants promote neighborhood development, produce affordable housing, and help extremely low-income
persons find their place in their communities."

The funding announced today includes:

• $ 1,155,953 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds;
• $    915,007 in HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funding, and
• $    477,408 for Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA).
  $2,548,368 TOTAL

Since 1974, HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program has provided approximately $132 billion to state and local governments to target their own community development priorities. The rehabilitation of affordable housing and the improvement of public facilities have traditionally been the largest uses of CDBG although the
program is also an important catalyst for job growth and business opportunities. Annual CDBG funds are distributed
to communities according to a statutory formula based on a community's population, poverty, and age of its housing stock, and extent of overcrowded housing.

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 completed nearly 950,000 affordable housing units, including 403,000 for new homebuyers. In addition,
224,000 tenants have received direct rental assistance.

HUD's Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) grants are distributed to states and cities based on the number of AIDS cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The grants provide resources for operating community residences and providing rental assistance and support services to individuals with HIV/AIDS
and their families. In addition, the HOPWA program also helps many communities develop strategic AIDS housing
plans and fill in gaps in local systems of care. A stable home environment is a critical component for low-income persons managing complex drug therapies and potential side effects from their treatments.

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.