HUD No. 00-39
Further Information:	For Release
In the Washington, DC area: 202/708-0685	Saturday
Or contact your local HUD office	February 26, 2000

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CUOMO AND CROWLEY ANNOUNCE $75,000 IN HUD AID TO HELP RESIDENTS OF PUBLIC HOUSING IN QUEENS

NEW YORK - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo and Congressman Joseph Crowley today announced $75,000 in HUD assistance to benefit residents of the Queensbridge public housing development in Queens in New York City.

Cuomo and Crowley made the announcement at the development's community center, after touring Queensbridge with Tenant Association President Nina Adams. Over 3,000 families currently live in Queensbridge, making it the largest public housing development in the nation.

HUD awarded a $50,000 Community Development Technical Assistance Grant to the development's Jacob Riis Community Center. The center will run a program with LaGuardia Community College to provide job training for young people in telecommunications and information technology.

HUD also awarded a $25,000 Drug Elimination Grant to Queensbridge to develop programs with its tenant association to help reduce crime and drug abuse in the community. The grant will be used to fund training in organizational development and management for residents to work more effectively in drug prevention, anti-crime education and counseling programs.

In addition, HUD gave 13 computers and three printers to the Queensbridge Tenant Association.

"This assistance will help bolster efforts by the tenant association to revitalize Queens communities by providing work experience to our young people, as well as giving them new opportunities to avoid drug use and grow up in a safe and healthy environment," Cuomo said.

"Public housing works, but it needs the necessary tools to accomplish the job," Crowley said. "Tools such as computers, job training and placement, a sense of community and anti-crime initiatives need to be in the equation. I will continue my fight in Washington to ensure that Queensbridge and other public housing centers have the resources necessary to be successful. These grants are part of my commitment to closing the digital divide and giving all residents of Queens and the Bronx an opportunity to succeed."

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