Home | En Español | Contact Us | A to Z 

HUD Archives: News Releases


HUD No. 98-494
Further Information:For Release
In the Washington, DC area: 202/708-0685Monday
Or contact your local HUD officeOctober 19, 1998

CUOMO AWARDS NEARLY $10.2 MILLION IN GRANTS TO FIGHT DRUGS AND CRIME IN PUBLIC AND ASSISTED HOUSING IN ALABAMA

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo today awarded $10,175,740 in grants to fight drug abuse and other crimes in public housing and HUD-assisted housing in Alabama.

Alabama's grants will be distributed to housing authorities and owners of HUD-subsidized housing for low-income families in the following cities:

Alexander City $143,100
Anniston $224,100
Ashland $59,700
Auburn $126,900
Bessemer $368,400
Birmingham $1,886,600
Bridgeport $50,000
Carbon Hill $50,000
Chickasaw $86,400
Childersburg $152,000
Citronelle $50,000
Daleville $50,000
Decatur $352,400
Dora $50,000
Dothan $201,000
Enterprise $50,000
Eufaula $96,300
Eutaw $173,600
Evergreen $50,000
Fairfield $90,000
Florence $197,700
Foley $50,000
Gadsden $310,800
Georgiana $50,000
Greenville $60,000
Guin $91,500
Guntersville $104,100
Haleyville $82,500
Huntsville $951,150
Jacksonville $52,500
Jasper $102,000
Lanett $108,300
Leeds $50,000
Lineville $152,300
Luverne $50,000
Mobile $1,086,020
Monroeville $50,000
Montgomery $784,420
Northport $120,000
Opelika $189,600
Opp $51,000
Ozark $124,800
Piedmont $63,000
Prattville $50,000
Prichard $128,100
Russellville $167,200
Samson $63,900
Scottsboro $94,800
Selma $183,900
Sheffield $123,600
Stevenson $53,600
Sylacauga $483,600
Talladega $149,100
Tallassee $100,000
Triana $50,000
Troy $129,600
Tuscaloosa $368,700
Tuskegee Institute $172,200
Uniontown $100,000
Valley $100,000
York $48,000

"These grants are good news for some of the poorest families in Alabama and bad news for drug dealers who terrorize them," Cuomo said. "We will fight drug abuse with prevention and treatment programs and with a crackdown on drug dealers and other criminals. We are telling drug dealers in HUD housing to find another line of work or be sent to another type of subsidized housing - a prison cell."

Cuomo said the recent Congressional approval of the Department's $24.5 billion budget for the 1999 fiscal year, which he called "the best HUD budget in 10 years," will speed the transformation of public and assisted housing.

"HUD is transforming public housing from isolated ghettos of poverty, drugs, despair and crime into safe and economically integrated communities of opportunity," Cuomo said.

Nationwide, HUD is awarding $305.2 million in Drug Elimination Grants this year - more than in any previous year. The grants will be distributed in the next several weeks in this way: $280.6 million to 749 public housing authorities; $8 million to 39 Indian Tribes; and $16.6 million to 143 privately owned housing developments that receive HUD assistance.

Another 53 privately owned HUD-subsidized low-income housing developments will receive a total of $11.7 million from a similar program called the New Approach Anti-Drug Program.

Vice President Al Gore, Cuomo and Attorney General Janet Reno announced a four-part enforcement and prevention strategy to fight crime and drugs in public housing in June 1997. The grants announced today are one element of that strategy.

The Drug Elimination Grants are awarded on a competitive basis, based on the seriousness of the drug and crime problem facing a housing authority or assisted housing development, and the strength of local plans to address the problem. About 900 housing authorities, 60 Indian tribes and 500 privately owned housing developments applied for the grants being awarded this year.

HUD has awarded more than $1.6 billion in Drug Elimination Grants since 1989, including the grants being awarded this year.

In public housing, the Drug Elimination Grants are used for: drug prevention, intervention and treatment programs; reimbursing law enforcement agencies for providing additional security; hiring security guards and investigators; resident anti-crime patrols; and physical improvements to housing developments to enhance security - such as fencing, lighting and improved locks.

In assisted housing, the Drug Elimination Grants are used for: drug prevention and education programs; referrals to drug treatment and counseling; and physical improvements to developments to enhance security. Individual grants for assisted housing developments are limited to a maximum of $125,000.

The New Approach Anti-Drug Program (formerly known as the Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program) provides funds for improving security at HUD-assisted developments and in surrounding neighborhoods by: hiring security guards, paying for extra police patrols, assisting in the investigation and prosecution of drug-related criminal activity, and implementing security-related physical improvements.

HUD's budget for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1 increases funding for HUD's key programs and renewals of Section 8 rental assistance by a total of more than $2 billion in the budget over 1998 levels. Spending was increased on most HUD programs and wasn't cut in any programs.

Legislation passed in the same bill as HUD's budget will:

  • Transform public housing by reducing segregation by race and income, encouraging and rewarding work, bringing more working families into public housing, and increasing the availability of subsidized housing for very poor families. In addition, the bill improves living conditions in public housing, gives the poorest families neighbors who will be role models of working families, and reduces crime. The bill also allows HUD to continue to tear down the largest failed public housing projects and replace them with new townhouse-style developments.

  • Expand the supply of affordable housing by enabling 90,000 more families to get Section 8 rental assistance vouchers that will subsidize their rents in privately owned apartments - the first increase in vouchers in four years.

  • Increase homeownership by raising the limit on home mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration from the current range of $86,317 in low-cost housing areas to $170,362 in high-cost areas. The bill increases the loan limits to a range of $109,032 in low-cost areas to $197,621 in high-cost areas. The higher ceiling on FHA-insured home mortgages opens the door of homeownership to thousands of families needing FHA insurance to get mortgages, but locked out now because the current loan limits have not kept pace with rising home prices.

HUD ANTI-DRUG ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITIES IN ALABAMA

  • Alexander City: $143,100 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Alexander City Housing Authority for programs to eradicate drugs and crime from public housing. The Boys and Girls Clubs provide a well rounded program for preparing youth to become adults.

  • Anniston: $224,100 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Anniston Housing Authority for programs to eliminate drug-related activity in its targeted developments. The strategy includes: contracting with off-duty City Police Officers and contracting with local community service agencies to provide comprehensive skills building, recreational and employment training activities for youth and adults.

  • Ashland: $59,700 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Town of Ashland Housing Authority for programs to eradicate drugs. Programs include community policing, youth sports activities, and educational programs.

  • Auburn: $126,900 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Auburn Housing Authority for programs to eliminate drug-related activity in targeted developments through foot patrol programs. Education programs offer opportunities to encourage residents to move from welfare to work and offer support and direction by helping residents achieve self-sufficiency.

  • Bessemer: $368,400 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Bessemer Housing Authority for programs to eliminate drug-related activity through employment of additional Police Officers. Funds will also be used to purchase a van for conversion to a mobile sub-station. The Authority will contract with youth services including Boy/Girl Scouts, Bessemer State Technical College, and Save the Youth.

  • Birmingham: $1,718,600 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Birmingham District Housing Authority for drug prevention programs and job readiness training with job placement to reduce and/or eliminate drug related crime in twelve of its housing communities. Another $168,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Jefferson County Housing Authority to combat drug related crime. Supplementary law enforcement officers will patrol public housing communities during "high activity" periods.

  • Bridgeport: $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Bridgeport Housing Authority to implement a comprehensive security and prevention based program designed to reduce/eliminate drugs and drug related crime in its targeted communities.

  • Carbon Hill: $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Carbon Hill Housing Authority to reduce and eliminate drug-related crime and to implement drug elimination activities in its targeted facilities.

  • Chickasaw: $86,400 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Chickasaw Housing Authority to prevent drug-related crime. The Chickasaw Police Department has agreed to provide a trained police officer to patrol targeted areas for the reimbursement of his salary. Youth activity including preventive education and athletics will be conducted year round.

  • Childersburg: $152,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Childersburg Housing Authority to implement a comprehensive security and prevention-based approach to reduce/eliminate drug-related crime within the city's 190 public housing units.

  • Citronelle: $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Mobile County Housing Authority to reduce drug-related crime and to implement drug elimination activities in targeted housing facilities by implementing screening, leasing and eviction policies.

  • Daleville: $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Daleville Housing Authority to implement drug elimination activities in targeted housing facilities by employing extra-duty police officers to staff a public housing police detail that will operate during varying hours at target areas.

  • Decatur: $227,400 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Decatur Housing Authority to reduce illegal drug use and drug-related crime in four targeted developments. OUR TEAM AGAINST CRIME will combine efforts of the residents, DHA staff police, and community agencies to develop additional programs to strengthen families and community through law enforcement, education, prevention and intervention activities. Another $125,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Stonegate Village for drug prevention, intervention and education. For prevention, security cameras, motion detection lighting and vandal proof breezeway lights will be installed. For intervention, partnerships with Boys and Girls Clubs and Community Youth Awareness have been formed. The education component includes a partnership with the school system to educate children about drugs.

  • Dora: $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Walker County Housing Authority to implement a comprehensive strategy including law enforcement, prevention, intervention, and substance abuse/dependency treatment to reduce/eliminate drug-related crime in public housing.

  • Dothan: $201,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the City of Dothan Housing Authority to continue law enforcement and to implement contract and in-house drug prevention, job training and education geared toward youth sports, welfare to work and self-betterment.

  • Enterprise: $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the City of Enterprise Housing Authority to form a collaborative effort to combine these agencies along with the residents of the Public Housing Program and the neighboring community residents to eliminate drug use, drug sales and drug-related crime.

  • Eufaula: $96,300 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Eufaula Housing Authority to reduce drug-related crime by implementing a comprehensive security/surveillance and preventive-based approach.

  • Eutaw: $173,600 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Greene County Housing Authority to implement a combination of programs including law enforcement, programs geared toward youth sports, parenting, job training, and education.

  • Evergreen: $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Evergreen Housing Authority to reduce drug-related crime, to implement drug elimination activities in and around PHA facilities, and to emphasize a comprehensive anti-crime strategy using effective methods of screening, leasing and eviction policies.

  • Fairfield: $90,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Fairfield Housing Authority to eradicate illegal drugs and related crime in targeted public housing areas.

  • Florence: $197,700 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Florence Housing Authority to combat drugs and drug-related crime in targeted housing communities. The program will include community police, Boys and Girls Club programs, resident programs, youth sports, child development and an elderly empowerment program, a volunteer service and youth intervention program.

  • Foley: $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Foley Housing Authority to implement programs to prevent drugs and drug-related crime in targeted communities. The program will include patrols, youth sports programs, tutorial and job training programs.

  • Gadsden: $310,800 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Greater Gadsden Housing Authority to implement programs to prevent drugs and drug-related crime. Community Oriented Police (C.O.P.) has been successful in removing illegal drugs and criminal activity associated with illegal drugs in targeted communities.

  • Georgiana: $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Georgiana Housing Authority for officer equipment, improvements in security and recreation and to supplement youth and adult programs.

  • Greenville: $60,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Greenville Housing Authority to implement patrol service including a full-time investigator and extra-duty police patrol, youth sports program, parenting and job training, tutorial assistance and self-betterment for drug prevention, intervention and awareness.

  • Guin: $91,500 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Guin Housing Authority to eradicate the criminal element from public housing. PARTNERSHIP AGAINST CRIME (PAC) will include a partnership with the Park and Recreational Board and a on-site tutoring program.

  • Guntersville: $104,100 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Guntersville Housing Authority to eradicate the criminal elements from public housing through HELPING OUR PROBLEMS EVAPORATE.

  • Haleyville: $82,500 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Haleyville Housing Authority to reduce/eliminate drug-related crime. The Haleyville Youth Club offers positive alternatives to crime and drugs with after-school and summer activities that include drug awareness, education, sports and educational activities. Parenting classes and services to support the family will be provided.

  • Huntsville: $951,150 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Huntsville Housing Authority to Working to Inspire New Goals and Successes (WINGS) to reduce illegal drug use and drug-related crime in four Huntsville Housing Authority developments. Funds will be used to increase community policing and to develop additional programs to strengthen the families and community through law enforcement, education, prevention and intervention activities. Special focus will be on at-risk youth to help them avoid gang and drug activity.

  • Jacksonville: $52,500 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Jacksonville Housing Authority to prevent infiltration of drugs, crime, and gang activity into targeted communities by funding patrols and community policing, promoting education and training, and parenting classes.

  • Jasper: $102,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Jasper Housing Authority to implement police patrols in targeted housing. These officers are expected to serve as positive role models as they interact with residents in a combination of youth programs.

  • Lanett: $108,300 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Lanett Housing Authority for funding dedicated law enforcement, physical improvements in security lighting, youth drug prevention, educational/cultural programs and youth/adult drug-abuse intervention programs.

  • Leeds: $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Leeds Housing Authority for a Youth Services-Drug Prevention and Education/Activities Enrichment program to educate youth, ages 7-14 in after-school educational topics and activities to promote drug resistance and reduce drug-related crime. Police services will be implemented and increased.

  • Lineville: $152,300 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Lineville Housing Authority to implement a dedicated police detail, fund a youth program geared toward sports, education assistance, drug education awareness and self-betterment.

  • Luverne: $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Luverne Housing Authority to continue a comprehensive drug elimination program that provides a full-time investigator and various drug prevention programs which provide recreational and educational opportunities for public housing residents.

  • Mobile: $1,086,020 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Mobile Housing Board to prevent drugs and drug-related crimes. Policing strategies include the installation of security fencing, video surveillance and lighting, and a resident parking policy to control traffic and increase safety. Prevention components of recreation, cultural arts, drug education, health care, remedial education, computer training are among a few of the continuing and expanding activities planned for public housing residents.

  • Monroeville: $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Monroeville Housing Authority to reduce drug-related crime, implement drug elimination activities and emphasize a comprehensive anti-crime strategy. Primary emphasis is placed on security and programming to reduce the numbers of families dependent on public assistance through welfare to work initiatives.

  • Montgomery: $784,420 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Montgomery Housing Authority to fund the MHA Investigative Unit, a partnership with the Montgomery Police Department and a drug prevention program. The activities were designed by housing authority staff, residents and community partners.

  • Northport: $120,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Northport Housing Authority to increase police protection in targeted communities. They will partner with the YMCA to provide youth services for drug prevention efforts.

  • Opelika: $189,600 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Opelika Housing Authority to fund security and prevent and reduce/eliminate drug-related crime.

  • Opp: $51,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Opp Housing Authority to provide residents opportunities for alternative lifestyles and to improve their life skills.

  • Ozark: $124,800 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Ozark Housing Authority to fund a GED program, a workplace readiness program, a job training program, the Kids Klub, a children's self-esteem program, recreation and sports activities for children and an after-school tutoring program.

  • Piedmont: $63,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Piedmont Housing Authority to continue a comprehensive drug elimination initiative established in 1990. This fund provides academic assistance, family strengths programs, alternatives, community awareness, youth sports activities, cultural arts programs. Additional police patrols will be implemented in an effort to rid targeted communities of drug-related criminal activity.

  • Prattville: $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Prattville Housing Authority to attack drug-related crime. Contracted patrols will be used to combat open drug trafficking in targeted developments. Preventive activities include youth cultural arts, job development and academic enrichment with extensive resident participation.

  • Prichard: $128,100 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Prichard Housing Authority to implement drug elimination activities in target housing facilities, and to emphasize a comprehensive anti-crime strategy using screening, leasing and eviction policies.

  • Russellville: $167,200 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Russellville Housing Authority to fund an aggressive and integrated Drug Elimination Program that provides additional law enforcement services in the form of foot patrols through a contract with the Russellville Police Department and other activities including after school and summer enrichment programs.

  • Samson: $63,900 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Samson Housing Authority to provide residents with opportunities to learn alternative lifestyles and improve their life skills.

  • Scottsboro: $94,800 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Scottsboro Housing Authority to MAKING A DIFFERENCE, a comprehensive plan designed to eliminate the criminal element from public housing and to provide the residents opportunities for alternative lifestyles and improve their life skills. The Police Department offers the Junior Deputy Program, REAP (Recreational, Educational, Activities Program. The Park & Recreation Board offers after-school programs and special programs to students.

  • Selma: $183,900 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Selma Housing Authority to reduce and eliminate drug related crime; to implement drug elimination activities in targeted housing and to emphasize a comprehensive anti-crime strategy using screening, leasing and eviction policies.

  • Sheffield: $123,600 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Sheffield Housing Authority to reduce/eliminate drug-related crimes. Police patrols will be used to combat the problem of drug trafficking. Trespassers will be identified by checking picture ID's of residents of Long Lowe Apartments. Residents will also display housing authority decals on their motor vehicles for identification.

  • Stevenson: $53,600 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Stevenson Housing Authority to eliminate drugs and crime from public housing. The Michael Scott Learning Center provides opportunities to youth to expand their learning capabilities. Tutoring, reading and other activities are offered year-round.

  • Sylacauga: $483,600 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Sylacauga Housing Authority to continue a comprehensive drug elimination program which includes law enforcement, drug prevention programs and recreational and educational opportunities for public housing residents.

  • Talladega: $149,100 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Talladega Housing Authority to continue its successful drug elimination program which has an on-site Investigative Officer and provides comprehensive law enforcement effort to reduce drugs and drug related crime in targeted communities.

  • Tallassee: $100,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Tallassee Housing Authority's Project "WARN" to eliminate the use of illegal drugs and drug-related crime in targeted public housing communities.

  • Triana: $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Triana Housing Authority to prevent to promote positive youth interaction, offer alternatives to drug use, education, emphasize family, and develop sound relationships between the Housing Authority, the Police, the Community and the residents.

  • Troy: $129,600 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Troy Housing Authority to fund the program GETUP V. The program is designed to reduce drug use and sales and educate residents about the dangers and consequences of illicit drug use and sales.

  • Tuscaloosa: $368,700 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Tuscaloosa Housing Authority to reduce/eliminate drug-related crime. Community policing will be used to combat the drug-related crimes and prevention programs will offer residents training to build skills to resist drugs and related activity.

  • Tuskegee Institute: $172,200 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Tuskegee Housing Authority to prevent drug use by providing law enforcement and career development and an educational program that promotes cultural and life skills to its residents.

  • Uniontown: $100,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Uniontown Housing Authority to reduce drug related crime and implement drug elimination activities at targeted facilities.

  • Valley: $100,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to Valley Housing Authority to prevent drug use and drug-related crimes; to promote self-betterment through education centered around youth residents in public housing.

  • York: $48,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to York Housing Authority to provide police patrols, and an extensive youth activity program that includes year round preventive education, scholarship and athletics. Physical security will be include a security/surveillance system.

    Content Archived: January 20, 2009

  • Whitehouse.gov
    FOIA Privacy Web Policies and Important Links [logo: Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity]
    U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
    451 7th Street S.W.
    Washington, DC 20410
    Telephone: (202) 708-1112 TTY: (202) 708-1455
    usa.gov