HUD puts $113 million toward revitalizing six urban areas

HUD awards $113.6 million

The U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that six public housing authorities will be awarded $113.6 million to revitalized “distressed public housing developments in their cities into mixed-income communities.”

Several cities submitted revitalization plans to HUD for the HOPE VI Program, with the six winning cities focused on innovative revitalization plans, including early childhood education programs which the Obama Administration has made clear is one of their objectives. The program has awarded over $6.1 billion in grants since its inception in 1993.

This HUD program has done “an outstanding job over the years to improve housing conditions for countless low-income communities and this year, we took it a step further,” HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said today. “As we start to broaden the scope of our efforts through the Choice Neighborhoods pilot program – linking housing to schools and early education programs, public transportation, grocery stores, health clinics and community centers – this year, HUD encouraged housing authorities for the first time to incorporate early childhood education components in their revitalization plans.”

Six cities awarded grants:

• Housing Authority of the City of Charlotte (NC) will receive $20,900,000 to revitalize the Boulevard Homes public housing development.
• Housing Authority of Covington (KY) will receive $17,000,000 to revitalize the Jacob Price public housing development.
• Housing Authority of the City of Dallas (TX) will receive $22,000,000 to revitalize the Turner Courts public housing development.
• Housing Authority of the City of Jersey City (NJ) will receive $9,700,000 to revitalize the A. Harry Moore public housing development.
• Memphis (TN) Housing Authority will receive $22,000,000 to revitalize the Cleaborn Homes public housing development.
• Housing Authority of the City of Trenton (NJ) will receive $22,000,000 to revitalize the Miller Homes public housing development.

According to HUD, “HOPE VI Revitalization grant funds are used for an array of activities, including: demolition of severely distressed public housing; acquisition of sites for off-site construction; capital costs of major rehabilitation; new construction and other physical improvements; costs for mobility counseling and relocation; and community and supportive service programs for residents, including those relocated as a result of revitalization efforts.”

CC Licensed image courtesy of orinrobertjohn via Flickr.com.

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