Stimulus has $12.7M to upgrade public housing
By Candi M. Lopez / El Paso Times
El Paso,
Feb 28, 2009 -
The city Housing Authority will receive $12.7 million from the federal stimulus package to fix roofs, replace windows, and improve lighting and bathrooms in public housing throughout the city, officials said Friday.
"The federal government has given us this money for shovel-ready projects in attempt to jump-start the economy that is currently faltering around the nation as we speak," said Gerald Cichon, Housing Authority executive director.
On Thursday, officials announced the city would receive $15 million from the stimulus package for transit improvements.
"The stimulus will have an ongoing effect in breathing life into the community," said Shane Griffith, Housing Authority spokesman.
The stimulus money for El Paso, which has the second-largest Housing Authority in the state, is designated as capital construction money and will be received March 18.
Griffith said the $12.7 million was determined by a formula based on the number and ages of local housing units. El Paso received the second-largest amount of money in the state behind San Antonio. San Antonio received $14 million.
Griffith said capital improvements would be directed toward projects such as retrofitting existing housing with more energy-efficient features.
They would include roof repairs, and the replacement of windows, light fixtures and inefficient water faucets, shower heads and toilets, Griffith said.
Officials also plan to make sure all units comply with Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act and repopulate vacant units that had been damaged by flooding and fire.
Some of the houses that will be improved were built in the 1970s and some in the late 1930s, officials said.
Cichon said federal government requires that the money be spent within three years.
"I want to go one better. I want to go spend all this money in the next 18 months," Cichon said.
For the housing authority to get the money quickly, it must get contracts using the total amount within one year, Griffith said. He said 60 percent of the money must be spent within two years and the entire amount within three.
This money will be added to the $10 million a year the Housing Authority receives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Cichon said.
The stimulus money, said Mayor John Cook, will help the local economy.
"Every federal dollar the Housing Authority spends through its various projects will generate approximately $2 in local economic activity," he said.
Cook said El Paso's economy is in better shape in part because of Fort Bliss, so additional projects will help put more people to work.
"What you're going to see is a portion of the construction business that was not put to work on Fort Bliss is going to have opportunities to get to work here," Cook said.
U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, reiterated that the creation of jobs is aim of the stimulus package signed into law by President Barack Obama on Feb. 17.
"We are really going to make a difference in the quality of life for El Pasoans here through the hard work of all of us," Reyes said.
With 6,044 housing units in 43 developments citywide, Housing Authority officials knew where they needed to use the additional money.
"Just in capital needs improvements, the (El Paso) Housing Authority has over $40 million in needs," Cichon said.
Cichon said replacement housing for up to at least 150 units is also needed, so the purchase or construction of new units is a possibility using the stimulus money.
The money the Housing Authority will receive is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which nationally includes $13.61 billion for projects and programs administered by HUD, Griffith said.
Candi M. Lopez may be reached at cmlopez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6125.
