HUD Archives: News Releases

BUSH ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $60 MILLION IN HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNDS FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA

WEST PALM BEACH, FL - Housing and Urban Development Assistance Secretary Roy A. Bernardi today announced the State of Florida will receive nearly $60 million in federal assistance to stimulate local economies, promote affordable housing, help homeless persons and assist families and individuals with HIV/ AIDS. In addition, Catholic Charities Housing, Inc. received $400,000 under HUD's Rural Housing and Economic Development Program. Bernardi made the funding announcements with Rep. Clay Shaw during a news conference in West Palm Beach, FL.

"These grants do so much good for so many people," Bernardi said. "This money helps communities do the critical work of stimulating business development and job growth, providing affordable housing and helping our most vulnerable neighbors."

"One of the greatest pleasures of my job is delivering good news from Washington to my constituents at home," said Shaw. "Today, I have the added pleasure of telling all Floridians that HUD has delivered over $59.6 million to our state in grants that will stimulate the business community and bring jobs, provide people with affordable housing and help our most vulnerable neighbors in their time of need."

The funding announced today for the State of Florida includes:

• $29,466,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds;
• $23,609,000 in Home Investment Partnership (HOME) funds;
• $ 2,430,000 in Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) funds; and,
• $ 4,129,000 in Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) funds.
  $59,634,000 Total Funding for State of Florida

The funding announced today for Catholic Charities Housing, Inc. will support the construction of 96 units of rental housing for migrant and seasonal farm workers at Catholic Charities' San Jose Mission in Dover, FL. The funding will also support the construction a community center that will provide on-site childcare, education and employment training, healthcare and homeownership education.

First awarded in 1974, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds enable state and local governments to target their own economic development priorities. Although the rehabilitation of affordable housing has traditionally been the largest single use of the grants, the program is also an increasingly important catalyst for economic development activities that expand job and business opportunities for lower income families and neighborhoods.

HOME (Home Investment Partnerships Program) is the largest federal block grant to state and local governments designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households. Since 1992, more than a half million affordable housing units have been acquired, constructed or rehabilitated and nearly 70,000 tenants have received direct rental assistance. In addition, more than 200,000 new homebuyers have received assistance to purchase their first homes through the HOME program.

Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) help communities meet the basic shelter needs of homeless individuals and families. Part of HUD's award-winning Continuum of Care initiative, these grants also provide transitional housing and a variety of support services designed to move the homeless away from a life on the street toward permanent housing.

HOPWA grants are distributed based on the number of AIDS cases as reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The grants expand housing opportunities, provide rental assistance, and support services to individuals with HIV/ AIDS and their families. In addition, the HOPWA program also helps many communities develop strategic AIDS housing plans and fill in gaps in local systems of care.

HUD's block grant programs are distributed by formula around the country based on criteria including population, income levels, poverty rates and age of housing stock.

The Rural Housing and Economic Development funding is part of $25 million distributed to rural communities in 33 states and territories to help create innovative housing and economic development solutions including rehabilitation, new construction, job creation, business retention and strategic planning.

HUD's Rural Housing and Economic Development program helps state and local communities to encourage economic development and promote affordable housing by building the capacity needed to undertake these complex activities. These communities can use the funding to hire and train staff, purchase computers and software, develop accounting systems or hire experts to help them accomplish their economic development and housing goals.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities, creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans, 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.

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Content Archived: April 9, 2010