Washington, DC (March 27, 2006) – Today, Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded various organizations in the district with grants and housing assistance.
The Edinburg Housing Authority has been awarded 100 housing choice vouchers for relocation assistance. Housing choice vouchers allow very low-income families to choose to lease or purchase safe, decent, and affordable privately-owned rental housing. The assistance is provided for families in The Towers Apartments, a public housing development that is scheduled for disposition in connection with a HUD-approved disposition plan.
“Housing options are limited for people living on a fixed income or paycheck to paycheck,” said Hinojosa. “These housing vouchers will help families find new, quality housing that is affordable and safe.”
In addition, the Texas State Program has received the following grants, which will be split between various counties throughout Texas:
• $672,413.00 in American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI) grants, which will help promote homeownership opportunities by providing necessary resources for downpayment and closing cost assistance to low-income and minority households.
• $75,297,579.00 in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), which provides annual grants to states and local units of government to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.
• $5,076,683.00 in Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG), which provide annual grants to state, local, and private entities to improve the quality and number of emergency homeless shelters.
• $40,636,419.00 under the HOME program that helps to expand the supply of decent, affordable housing to low- and very low-income families by providing grants to states and local governments to fund housing programs that meet local needs and priorities.
• $2,691,000.00 under the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (IIOPWA) program that provides housing assistance and related supportive services to local units of government, states and non-profit organizations for projects that benefit low-income persons medically diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and their families.
“A key ingredient to community development is providing affordable housing to families,” Hinojosa continued. “To meet these needs, we must provide communities with resources to help manage smart growth and expansion.”