JACKSON ANNOUNCES $94.5 MILLION IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING FUNDS FOR STATE OF TEXAS
HUD grants targeted to lower income persons and families in need

DALLAS - The State of Texas will receive nearly $94.5 million in funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to stimulate local economies, produce affordable housing, help the homeless, and assist families and individuals with HIV/AIDS. In making today's announcement during a town hall meeting in West Dallas, HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson said the funding represents another investment in improving the living conditions for lower income families in Texas.

"This Administration is committed to promoting economic development and job growth, increasing the supply of affordable housing, and helping our most vulnerable neighbors," said Jackson. "These funds will serve as a catalyst for low-income families trying to cross the threshold into homeownership and demonstrate our commitment to the future of this great state."

The funding announced today includes:

• $86,736,688 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds;
• $4,977,909 in Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG); and,
• $2,736,000 for Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA).

For the past 30 years, HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program has awarded over $108 billion to state and local governments to target their own community development priorities. CDBG is one of HUD's oldest and most popular programs. The rehabilitation of affordable housing has traditionally been the largest single use of the grants although CDBG is also an important catalyst for job growth and business opportunities. CDBG funds are distributed by formula around the country based on a community's population, income levels, poverty rates and the age of its housing stock.

Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) help local communities to meet the basic shelter needs of homeless individuals and families. 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. This block grant program, in concert with more than $1 billion HUD awards by competition, helps thousands of local homeless assistance programs to help those who would otherwise call the streets their home.

HUD's Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) grants are distributed based on the number of AIDS cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The grants 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. A stable home environment is a critical component for low-income persons managing complex drug therapies and potential side effects from their treatments.