WASHINGTON - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo today awarded $261 million in grants to fight drug abuse and other crime in public housing and privately owned housing subsidized by HUD across the country.

"These grants will protect some of the poorest and most vulnerable American families from being terrorized by drug dealers and gangs, and will save lives," Cuomo said. "The grants will give young people new opportunities to avoid drug abuse, to grow up healthy and safe, and to build better futures."

Here's how the grants will be distributed:

• $226.6 million in Drug Elimination Program Grants to 891 public housing authorities located in 47 states, plus the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico and Washington, DC to fight crime and drug abuse in public housing developments.

• $18.6 million to 84 privately owned HUD-subsidized housing developments in 26 states and Puerto Rico for a similar drug elimination program called the New Approach Anti-Drug Program (formerly known as the Safe Neighborhood Grant Program). These grants are awarded to fight drug abuse and drug-related crime in and around the neighborhoods of these developments.

• $16.2 million to 124 privately owned HUD-subsidized apartment developments in 38 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, DC from the Multifamily Drug Elimination Program to fight drug abuse and drug-related crime in the immediate surroundings of the developments.

Activities funded by HUD grants awarded today include:

• Reimbursing law enforcement agencies for assigning extra police officers to patrol housing developments.

• Hiring private security guards and investigators to assist police in keeping developments safe.

• Funding resident anti-crime patrols that work in partnership with law enforcement officers.

• Physical improvements to housing developments to enhance security - such as fencing, lighting and improved locks.

HUD has awarded more than $1.9 billion in Drug Elimination Grants since 1989, including the grants being awarded this year.

Here is a list of funds that went to housing authorities and apartment owners around the country from the all three grants announced today:

Alabama	$8,212,276	Montana	$215,982
Alaska	$293,621	Nebraska	$892,812
Arizona	$1,787,832	New Hampshire	$618,400
Arkansas	$1,492,398	New Jersey	$11,495,586
California	$10,519,699	New Mexico	$954,303
Colorado	$1,316,857	New York	$41,853,796
Connecticut	$4,415,711	Nevada	$1,032,914
District of Columbia	$2,596,104	North Carolina	$8,997,036
Delaware	$843,681	North Dakota	$135,483
Florida	$11,313,628	Ohio	$13,084,113
Georgia	$8,944,234	Oklahoma	$2,543,398
Guam	$165,175	Oregon	$2,137,582
Hawaii	$1,189,218	Pennsylvania	$14,019,766
Idaho	$60,190	Puerto Rico	$13,671,033
Illinois	$14,707,370	Rhode Island	$1,519,334
Indiana	$3,905,447	South Carolina	$3,669,901
Iowa	$496,190	Tennessee	$7,176,438
Kansas	$1,300,761	Texas	$11,131,240
Kentucky	$3,748,350	Utah	$531,890
Louisiana	$5,760,841	Vermont	$250,000
Maine	$1,221,719	Virgin Islands	$941,345
Maryland	$6,437,550	Virginia	$5,222,673
Massachusetts	$7,678,589	Washington	$3,676,725
Michigan	$3,907,165	West Virginia	$1,260,026
Minnesota	$2,907,570	Wisconsin	$1,608,576
Mississippi	$3,015,165
Missouri	$3,763,557

Content Archived: January 20, 2009