Human Services News

HUD News Release 06-020

WASHINGTON - Local communities around the country will be better able to house and serve low-income persons because of nearly $29 million in technical assistance grants announced today by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson.

HUD's Community Development Technical Assistance grants will assist local communities to produce more affordable housing, better serve persons who are homeless, and more effectively assist persons living with HIV/AIDS.

"This is about making government work better and smarter," said Jackson.

"These technical assistance grants will give local housing and service providers the tools they need to do what they do best---help people."

Aid public and nonprofit organizations receiving funding under HUD's Youthbuild Program to construct affordable housing while training at-risk young people in the construction trades - $ 3.0 million.

Four national community development organizations will receive funding to assist more than a thousand communities to better management their Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs.

Over the past 30 years, CDBG has awarded approximately $112 billion to state and local governments to target their own community development priorities.

The funding announced today will help nearly 700 communities to design and implement strategies that lead to increased affordable housing in their areas.

These strategies include making lower income homes more energy efficient, promoting employer-assisted housing and encouraging private sector involvement in the development of affordable housing.

These community-based nonprofit CHDOs work closely with local jurisdictions receiving HOME funding and further promote affordable housing opportunities to lower income persons and families living in those communities.

This technical assistance will further support the Bush Administration's goal of ending chronic homelessness.