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HUD Archives: News Releases


HUD No. 98-552
Further Information:For Release
In the Washington, DC area: 202/708-0685Monday
Or contact your local HUD officeOctober 26, 1998

CUOMO AWARDS $5,808,348 IN GRANTS TO FIGHT DRUGS AND CRIME IN PUBLIC AND ASSISTED HOUSING IN LOUISIANA

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo today awarded $5,808,348 in grants to fight drug abuse and other crimes in public housing and HUD-assisted housing in Louisiana.

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

Arcadia $50,000 Monroe $395,720
Baton Rouge $693,860 Morehouse Parish $209,000
Dequincy $50,000 Natchitoches $223,000
Deridder $50,000 New Iberia $60,000
Kenner $50,000 New Orleans $2,690,160
Lafayette $171,600 Patterson $31,200
Lake Charles $500,000 Raceland $81,200
Laplace $93,500 Ruston $206,308
Lutcher $252,800    
.

"These grants are good news for some of the poorest families in Louisiana 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 LOUISIANA COMMUNITIES

ARCADIA

  • $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Housing Authority of Arcadia to fund a comprehensive security and preventive education based approach to reduce and eliminate drug related crime. Additional police patrols will be used to secure our developments. Four education and youth activities programs will be implemented to include: discussion seminars, a Youth/College Student Mentor Program, Scholarship Incentives for further education and the establishment of the Boys and Girls Club of Arcadia.

    BATON ROUGE

  • $375,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Housing Authority of East Baton Rouge Parish which will encompasses (a) law enforcement, (b) drug prevention programs, (c) adult prevention programs "Welfare to Work Initiatives", and (d) strong management practices, all of which involve resident participation. The program will serve all public housing developments and will emphasize drug use prevention and elimination through adult and youth enhancements, organized sports, after-school and summer youth programs, youth clubs, camps, field trips, workshops, law enforcement, job training/placement, FSS program and a Campus of Learners' program.

  • $318,860 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Housing Authority of East Baton Rouge Parish which will serve all developments and emphasize drug use prevention and elimination through adult and youth enhancements, organized sports, after-school and summer youth programs, youth clubs, camps, field trips, workshops, law enforcement, job training/placement, Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) program and Campus of Learners program.

    DEQUINCY

  • $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Housing Authority of Dequincy which is proposing a comprehensive approach to reducing or eliminating drugs and drug related crimes through the methods of enhanced security, educational and employment opportunities for adult and youth residents.

    DERIDDER

  • $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Housing Authority of Deridder to fund additional security patrols during peak problem hours, specific Narcotics Task Force activities, and additional physical improvements such as security lighting.

    KENNER

  • $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Housing Authority of Kenner which will use an educational and preventive-based approach to reduce and eliminate drug-related crime. The Housing Authority and its Resident Council will work together to combat the problems of open drug trafficking and work with all parts of the community to ensure a drug-free environment.

    LAFAYETTE

  • $171,600 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Housing Authority of Lafayette which will address the drug and crime problem that exists in its developments in the form of a multi-faceted program that seeks to balance community policing efforts with drug prevention and education for families with children.

    LAKE CHARLES

  • $250,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Housing Authority of Lake Charles for its Broad Based Plan to combat drugs in their developments. The program involves a seven point plan, which was conceived by the housing agency in partnership with residents, city government, city police, local churches, public schools and law enforcement.

  • An additional $250,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Housing Authority of Lake Charles for its plan which calls for the investigation and eviction of drug offenders within the developments, a uniformed Police foot patrols, drug education, drug treatment and educational and vocational opportunities.

    LAPLACE

  • $93,500 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Housing Authority of St. John the Baptist Paris which will utilize its funds to reimburse law enforcement to provide above baseline services within the public housing community and to develop and implement preventive and intervention programs to reduce and eliminate drug crime within the community's public housing developments.

    LUTCHER

  • $158,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Housing Authority of St. James Parish which will utilize community policing in a comprehensive approach and an educational and self-esteem program for its drug prevention module targeted specifically to youth aged 6-13 years. Various presentations will be offered to residents on topics like physical, mental and emotional well being at the regularly scheduled council meetings.

    LUTCHER

  • An additional $94,800 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Housing Authority of St. James Parish to continue the improvement of the neighborhood developments by the installation of security equipment at the community centers. These community centers will be the site for ABE/GED instructional courses and classes in computer training which will improve the educational levels and marketability of our adult-aged resident population who are interested in seeking employment.

    MONROE

  • $395,720 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Housing Authority of Monroe which will continue operation "Weed and Seed" within a Community Policing program as well as the "One Strike and You're Out" program to attack the drug-related crime and its associated illegal activities. The Neighborhood Policing Center and Bicycle Patrols will continue to increase the interaction between police and residents and improve public safety and quality of life in the developments. In addition, the continuation of the Youth Computer Learning Program, which is based on HUD's Campus of Learners, offers youth alternative to drugs and drug related crimes.

    MOREHOUSE PARISH

  • A $209,000 Drug Elimination Grant will go to Morehouse Gardens Apartments to fund increased security at the apartment complex through the construction and installation of a strong, high-quality security fence. Creation of a staffed police substation will heighten the accessibility of security both at the residential property and surrounding neighborhood. One of the primary activities proposed for this program will include initiating resident teams that will keep the police apprised of drug activity.

    NATCHITOCHES

  • $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Housing Authority of Natchitoches Parish to support resident programs such as R.O.P.E., established to bring neighborhood support system to the residents, C. O. O. L., which teaches youths safety and reporting techniques, and F. R. I. L.L.S., which provides supportive services to residents.

  • $123,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Housing Authority of the City of Natchitoches. The City of Natchitoches has worked with residents, social services agencies, educators, and law enforcement to develop a comprehensive plan to combat drugs and drug related activities in and around public housing.

  • An additional $50,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Housing Authority of Natchitoches Parish for LISTEN, LINK, and LEAD, a program which incorporates a community based approach to eliminate drugs. By listening to resident's concerns, law enforcement officials and community leaders can better address needs and problems. Linking residents to available, on site resources is important. Teaching residents to take control of their community, and providing leadership is vital to the success of the drug elimination program.

    NEW IBERIA

  • $60,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Housing Authority of New Iberia which will use a comprehensive security and preventive based approach to reduce and eliminate drug related activity and crime. The Volunteer Tenant Patrol as well as the Off-Duty Police Officers will be used to combat the problem of drug trafficking in the developments.

    NEW ORLEANS

  • $2,565,160 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO). HANO and Partners Against Crime Coalition (PACC) will provide a unified and coordinated plan of strict enforcement, intervention and prevention, and educational and economic opportunity to reduce crime and drug-related violence. PACC includes unique resources available to HANO and the other coalition partners from Tulane and Xavier universities. Short-term goals include increased resident access to intervention, counseling and treatment and reduced crime in and around public housing.

  • A $125,000 Drug Elimination Grant will go to Melanie Ottaway for Versailles Arms Apartments to fund community drug education and provide support services to residents, including drug treatment referrals and training in preserving strong family units. Further, they will provide youth programs designed to promote peer leadership, and will address the risk factor of economic deprivation by providing education, vocational training and corporate sponsorships for residents ages 13-18. The final component of the plan provides for resident intervention through identification of users, modification of their behavior, and encouragement of acceptance of treatment.

    PATTERSON

  • $31,200 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Housing Authority of Patterson which will continue the drug prevention program in the form of a junior high school tutoring program, and institute a job readiness program to assist the residents in their efforts to comply with the Welfare to Work movement.

    RACELAND

  • $81,200 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Housing Authority of Lafourche Parish which will use the funds to reimburse the cost incurred by the Sheriff's Office in the assignment of three full time deputies to provide community oriented policing services within the developments. They will be used to combat drugs and drug related crimes within the developments. The ultimate goal is to achieve a viable, safe, supportive, and healthy living environment within which families may grow and prosper.

    RUSTON

  • $116,308 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Housing Authority of Ruston which will use a comprehensive security and preventive based approach to attack the drug-related crime. Security guards, investigators, as well as community based police patrols will be used to combat the problem of drug trafficking in our developments. Increased sports, educational, and job training activities for the youth will be incorporated in the program as preventive methods.

  • An additional $90,000 in Drug Elimination Grants will go to the Housing Authority of Ruston for security and preventive based programs.

    Content Archived: January 20, 2009

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