HUD Provides $153M for Public Housing Projects

WASHINGTON, DC-The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded grants to eight housing authorities for a total of $152.7 million to transform distressed public housing developments into mixed-income projects. The eight cities, receiving grants that ranged from $7.8 million to $18 million to $22 million, are Boston, MA; Denver, CO; Louisville, KY; Patterson, NJ; St. Louis, MO; Taunton, MA; Phoenix, AZ; and Portland, OR.

As it did last year, HUD looked for those projects that emphasized early education and had a transportation component, a HUD spokeswoman tells GlobeSt.com. 

“We feel it is important to link housing with education and transportation so the housing authorities got points for partnering and showing readiness to develop early childhood programs,” the spokeswoman says.

The grants were provided under HUD’s HOPE VI--a program that secretary Shaun Donovan says will continue to emphasize the trend of next generation neighborhood revitalization. “As we move toward [a policy] that links housing, education, transportation, healthcare and other support services--we will always remember it all began with HOPE VI,” Donovan said in a prepared statement. 

Grants awarded this year included:

• $22 million to Boston Housing Authority to revitalize the Old Colony public housing development;
• $22 million to Housing Authority of the City and County of Denver for the South Lincoln public housing development;
• $22 million to Louisville Metropolitan Housing Authority for the Sheppard Square public housing development;
• $18.4 million to Housing Authority of the City of Patterson for the Alexander Hamilton public housing development;
• $7.8 million to the St. Louis Housing Authority for the Arthur Blumeyer public housing development;
• $22 million to Taunton Housing Authority for the Fairfax Gardens public housing development;
• $20 million to the Phoenix Housing Authority for the Frank Luke Addition public housing development; and
• $18.5 million to Housing Forward (Portland Housing Authority) for the Hillsdale Terrace public housing development.

Some 36 public housing authorities applied for the funding program. Later this year, HUD will award $65 million to implement its new Choice Neighborhoods Program.