BUSH ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $22 MILLION TO HELP VERY LOW-INCOME ELDERLY AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN TEXAS
Dallas, Houston, Denton, Waco, San Antonio Receive Grants for Elderly/Disabled Housing

FORT WORTH - It will soon be easier for senior citizens and people with disabilities nationwide to find affordable housing, thanks to more than $710 million in housing assistance announced today by Housing and Urban
Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson. In Texas, Dallas, Houston, Denton, Waco and San Antonio received
grants totaling $22,978,900 to help very low-income elderly and people with disabilities find decent, safe housing
that they can afford. A list of grantees and amounts follows.

"Our senior citizens have given us so much, and Americans with disabilities make remarkable contributions to our society every day. Neither group should ever have to worry about being able to afford a decent place to live," said Jackson. "The grants we are announcing today will go a long way toward achieving that goal."

Section 202 Grants ($574.8 million nationally to assist very low-income elderly)

HUD's Section 202 grants program helps expand the supply of affordable housing with supportive services for the elderly. It provides very low-income elderly with options that allow them to live independently but in an environment that provides support activities such as cleaning, cooking, and transportation.

In addition to funding the construction and rehabilitation of projects to create apartments, HUD Section 202 grants will subsidize rents for five years so that residents will pay only 30 percent of their adjusted incomes as rent.

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 $20,300 a year.

HUD provides two forms of Section 202 funds to non-profit groups:

• Capital advances. This money covers the cost of developing the housing. It does not need to be repaid
  if the housing is available for occupancy by very low-income seniors for at least 40 years.
  
  
• Project rental assistance. This money covers the difference between the resident's contribution toward
  rent and the cost of operating the project.

Section 811 Grants ($135.8 million nationally to assist very low-income people 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.

The grants are awarded under HUD's Section 811 program, which provides housing for households with one or more very low-income individuals, at least one of whom is at least 18 years old and has a disability, such as 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 allows persons with disabilities 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 $12,180.

HUD provides the Section 811 funds to non-profits in two forms:

• Capital advances. This is money that covers the cost of developing the housing. It does not need to be
  repaid as long as the housing is available for at least 40 years for occupancy by very low-income peopl
  e with disabilities.
  
  
• Project rental assistance. This is money that goes to each non-profit group to cover the difference
  between the residents' contributions toward rent and the cost of operating the project.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; 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 as 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.

###

Section 202 - Supportive Housing for the Elderly

Project Location: Dallas, TX
Non-Profit Sponsor: CC Young Memorial Home Inc
Capital Advance: $4,216,500
5-year rental subsidy: $806,000
Number of units: 54
Project Description:
The project is comprised of ten two-story buildings consisting of three building types. The design includes 53 one-bedroom/one-bath apartment units for very low-income elderly resident and one two-bedroom/one-bath resident manager's apartment unit. The buildings are generally clustered around outdoor landscaped courtyards. The building
is intended to provide various opportunities for social interaction and recreation by the residents, including the following: community room with party kitchen, entry lobby, sitting/library and laundry facilities.

Project Location: Houston, TX
Non-Profit Sponsor: AHEPA National Housing Corp.
Capital Advance: $4,967,600
5-year rental subsidy: $1,012,000
Number of units: 67
Project Description:
The funds will be used to construct a three-story apartment facility, served by elevators and internal fire stairs, located at 8100 Creekbend Road in Houston, Texas 77071. The design includes 67 one-bedroom/one-bath units for very-low income elderly persons. Interior design of the units provides individual areas for living, eating, sleeping, and cooking. The building is designed to have community areas for resident's social, educational and recreational activities.

Project Location: San Antonio, TX
Non-Profit Sponsor: Retirement Housing Foundation
Capital Advance: $4,065,300
5-year rental subsidy: $753,500
Number of units: 55
Project Description:
The 55-unit complex for very-low-income elderly persons has been designed to provide quality housing and
supportive services for senior adults so that they can live independently and look forward to "aging in place". The individual units are designed to include such features as emergency call systems, non-slip floor surfaces, grab bars, and roll in showers. The common areas have also been planned so that with simple modification, resident support services can be increased in future years as needed.

Project Location: Waco, TX
Non-Profit Sponsor: Mercy Housing Inc
Co-Sponsor: Mercy Housing Colorado
Capital Advance: $4,208,400
5-year rental subsidy: $821,500
Number of units: 55
Project Description:
The building has been designed as a three-story structure to include 54 living units for the elderly. There is one (1) two-bedroom unit for the Resident Manager. The creation of a social atmosphere that fosters self-sufficiency and provides services to support the changing need of the elderly residents for years are a community room, computer room, and space for a central kitchen.

Section 811 - Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities

Project Location: Denton, TX
Non-Profit Sponsor: Denton Affordable Housing Corp
Capital Advance: $717,100
5-year rental subsidy: $122,000
Number of units: 8
Project Description:
The project will have eight two-bedroom and one-bathroom units for persons with physical disabilities, mental illness and/or persons with developmental disabilities. Within walking distance or via public transportation from the site,
there are medical facilities, parks, grocery stores, pharmacies, shopping centers, higher education and employment opportunities.

Project Location: Houston, TX
Non-Profit Sponsor: MHMRA of Harris County
Capital Advance: $1,077,500
5-year rental subsidy: $211,500
Number of units: 15
Project Description:
The funds will be used to construct 14 one-bedroom units for very low-income persons with mental disabilities and
a two-bedroom unit for the resident manager. The project will be designed to be low maintenance and energy
efficient as well as visually compatible with surrounding homes in the neighborhood. The project will have a
community space that will include a kitchen, lobby, manager's office, and laundry room. Supportive services will be available that will allow residents to live as independently as possible.