WASHINGTON – More than $79 million in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funding will come to Rhode Island as part of a $10 billion nationwide allocation announced on Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed’s office announced.
The funding is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which includes a total of $13.61 billion for HUD projects.
“The Obama administration is following through on its pledge to get this money out swiftly and effectively,” Reed said in a statement released by his office. “I am pleased Rhode Island’s cities and housing authorities will receive this critical federal funding to put people back to work building and renovating affordable housing.”
Reed added that the money will keep Rhode Islanders in their homes and help to stabilize hard-hit neighborhoods.
“It will also help make public housing more energy efficient, which will help families save on their energy bills and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Releasing this round of funding is a positive step toward strengthening our communities, improving our housing outlook and bolstering the local economy,” he said.
The remaining 25 percent of the HUD funds – $3.61 billion – will be competitively awarded, Reed’s office said.
The $79,089,379 headed to Rhode Island is set to fund these programs:
• Project-based rental assistance: $36,561,674, which will be used for Section 8 housing contracts and will enable owners to take on project improvements.
• Public housing capital fund program: $18,856,530, which will go to local public housing agencies to improve the state’s affordable housing infrastructure.
• HOME Program/Tax Credit Assistance Program: $11,933,403, which will fund stalled housing projects that rely on Low-Income Housing Tax Credits.
• Homelessness Prevention: $6,977,808, which will go to governmental entities for housing and associated costs. Rhode Island will receive $3,282,670. Providence will receive $2,303,402. Pawtucket will receive $845,934. Woonsocket will receive $545,802.
• Community Development Block Grant program: $4,559,776, which will fund local community development projects. Providence will receive $1,505,678. Rhode Island will receive $1,399,061. Pawtucket will receive $552,930. Woonsocket will receive $356,744. Cranston will receive $286,946. Warwick will receive $243,030. East Providence will receive $215,387.
• Native American Housing Block Grants: $200,188, which will fund energy efficient modernizations and renovations of Native American-owned housing.
Additional information is available at reed.senate.gov.
