HUD AWARDS SHALOM ECUMENICAL CENTER OVER $4.7 MILLION FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY IN KENNEWICK

SPOKANE - Arlene Patton, Spokane Field Office Director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, announced today a capital advance of $4,008,900 to Shalom Ecumenical Center build an 45-unit independent living project for the elderly in Kennewick. An additional five-year rental subsidy of $722,000 is also a part of the overall grant. Residents will pay 30 percent of their adjusted income for rent and the federal government will pay the remainder from this subsidy.

Shalom Ecumenical Center will work with the consultant, G&B Real Estate Services of Spokane to construct the new three-story building. It will consist of 44 one-bedroom units for the residents and 1 two-bedroom unit for a resident manager.

"The City of Kennewick is pleased that the non-profit sponsor Shalom Ecumenical Center and its consultant, G&B
Real Estate Services will be receiving HUD Section 202 Supportive Housing Funds for the development of 45 independent living units for very low-income elderly residents," said Alan Kowalski, Community Development Coordinator, City of Kennewick. "Kennewick's 2005-2009 Consolidated Community Development and Affordable
Housing Plan identifies the need for affordable-assisted and independent-living units for elderly persons and persons with disabilities in the area. As a result of creating community partnerships such as this, Kennewick continues to
build a better community and Kennewick's low-income elderly will have assistance in finding decent and safe housing that they can afford."

"Through grants such as these, HUD enables seniors who can least afford adequate housing to live with dignity,"
said Rich Barchet, Chair SEC Affordable Housing. "Not only will the seniors that will live in this facility benefit from it, but its surrounding neighborhood and community will be enhanced by its presence."

The Shalom Ecumenical Center grant, which is one of five 202 grants awarded in Washington, is part of $574.8
million competitively awarded nationally in HUD Section 202 grants. HUD's Section 202 grant 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.

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.

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.

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