Contact: Ernie Blazar 202.224.7627 Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Friday, May 9, 2003

WASHINGTON - Kit Bond today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has accelerated the delivery of $64 million in housing funds to Missouri and Kansas City in response to the President's declaration of a federal disaster in those areas following recent tornado damage.

"This is a big dose of very quick help at a time when Missouri and Kansas City are fighting hard to overcome the tornado damage," said Bond, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds HUD. "I talked with the Housing Secretary today by phone and personally thanked him for his help and attention to what we are going through."

Bond said that HUD Secretary Mel Martinez said the housing agency will exercise the latitude it has to waive certain regulatory requirements attached to these funds. For example, deadlines will be pushed back or eliminated and the need for matching funds in some instances will be waived.

Here are the funds announced today for the State of Missouri:

* $10.9 million for Community Development Block Grant,

* $3.1 million for HOME Investment Partnership Grant,

* $408,000 for Emergency Shelter Grant Program, and

* $983,000 for Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS.

Here are the funds announced today for Kansas City:

* $29.3 million for Community Development Block Grant,

* $17.7 million for HOME Investment Partnership Grant,

* $1.24 million for Emergency Shelter Grant Program, and

* $503,000 for Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS.

Bond served Missouri twice as Governor and now continues his service while in his third term in the U.S. Senate.