NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded public housing authorities in Louisiana $37,325,904 that will be used to make major large-scale improvements to their public housing assets. See the end of this release for a list of housing authorities and grant amounts.
The grants announced today are part of HUD's Capital Fund Program, which provides funding annually to all public housing authorities to build, repair, renovate and/or modernize the public housing in their communities. The authorities use the funding to do large-scale improvements to the housing such as new roofs or to make energy-efficient upgrades to replace old plumbing and electrical systems.
"This funding is critical for housing authorities to maintain and improve public housing conditions for their residents," said Donovan. "However, with a significant repair backlog, I am encouraged by new, innovative long-term solutions HUD is exploring that can be combined with this funding to not only protect and preserve this housing for the next generation, but to also build the quality infrastructure necessary for families to thrive."
"Housing authorities in Louisiana count on this funding to maintain and improve their public housing for many families, especially the most vulnerable - our seniors," said Mark Brezina, Acting Regional Administrator. "HUD is currently taking bold steps to preserve this affordable housing."
Capital Fund grants are awarded each year to the nation's approximately 3,100 public housing agencies through a formula that considers number, type and age of units in a community. Eligible uses for this funding include development, financing and modernization of the public housing units as well as management improvements at the public housing authority.
Over the past 75 years, the federal government has been working and investing billions of dollars in developing and maintaining public and multifamily housing - including providing critical support through the Capital Fund grants announced today. Still, the nation continues to lose approximately 10,000 public housing units annually, primarily due to disrepair. In 2011, HUD released Capital Needs in the Public Housing Program, a study that estimated the capital needs in the public housing stock. The study found the nation's 1.2 million public housing units are facing an estimated $25.6 billion in large-scale repairs. Unlike routine maintenance, capital needs are extensive improvements required to make the housing decent and economically sustainable, such as replacing roofs or updating plumbing and electrical systems to increase energy efficiency.
To help protect the considerable federal investment and respond to the growing demand for affordable rental housing, the Obama Administration proposed the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), a comprehensive strategy that complements the Capital Fund Program and offers a long-term solution to preserve and enhance the country's affordable housing stock, including leveraging public and private funding to make critically needed improvements.
Since Congress approved the demonstration, early results show it is already generating additional capital for public and assisted housing. After opening RAD application periods last summer, HUD has approved or given initial approval to nearly 20,000 public and assisted housing units in 180 different projects across the country. Through these awards, housing authorities have proposed to generate close to $816 million in private debt and equity investments to reduce the capital backlog in public housing properties, which will preserve or replace distressed units and support local jobs in their communities - all without additional federal resources.
HUD also recently issued new RAD guidance that expands the program's flexibility that will benefit current and future applicants and participants.
Capital Fund Grants for Louisiana
Bogalusa Housing Authority
$397,541
East Carroll Parish Housing Authority
$47,975
Housing Auth. of The Town of St. Martinville
$120,795
Housing Authority of City of Covington
$54,837
Housing Authority of City of Opelousas
$841,069
Housing Authority of City of Slidell
$126,493
Housing Authority of Crowley
$419,566
Housing Authority of Duson
$30,900
Housing Authority of East Baton Rouge
$1,411,973
Housing Authority of Farmerville
$48,260
Housing Authority of Ferriday
$73,685
Housing Authority of Gibsland
$23,264
Housing Authority of Grant Parish
$30,456
Housing Authority of Homer
$102,195
Housing Authority of Jefferson Parish
$224,621
Housing Authority of Jena
$53,434
Housing Authority of Kaplan
$99,394
Housing Authority of Lafourche Parish
$332,258
Housing Authority of Lake Charles
$1,027,708
Housing Authority of Monroe
$2,052,352
Housing Authority of Natchitoches Parish
$108,428
Housing Authority of New Iberia
$228,869
Housing Authority of New Orleans
$15,229,579
Housing Authority of Oakdale
$161,584
Housing Authority of Rapides Parish
$216,737
Housing Authority of Rayne
$220,818
Housing Authority of Ruston
$340,261
Housing Authority of Sabine Parish
$323,806
Housing Authority Of Shreveport
$1,069,652
Housing Authority of South Landry
$151,682
Housing Authority of St. Charles Parish
$130,027
Housing Authority of St. James Parish
$428,842
Housing Authority of St. John the Baptist Parish
$407,029
Housing Authority of the City of Abbeville
$181,443
Housing Authority of the City of Alexandria
$1,006,483
Housing Authority of the City of Bossier City
$491,566
Housing Authority of the City of Breaux Bridge
$105,542
Housing Authority of the City of Denham Springs
$49,483
Housing Authority of the City of DeQuincy
$80,993
Housing Authority of the City of DeRidder
$135,148
Housing Authority of the City of Donaldsonville
$178,267
Housing Authority of the City of Eunice
$162,404
Housing Authority of the City of Houma
$623,291
Housing Authority of the City of Jennings
$203,437
Housing Authority of the City of Kenner
$158,007
Housing Authority of the City of Lafayette
$613,460
Housing Authority of the City of Leesville
$206,709
Housing Authority of the City of Minden
$264,561
Housing Authority of the City of Morgan City
$399,118
Housing Authority of the City of Natchitoches
$464,179
Housing Authority of the City of Sulphur
$230,105
Housing Authority of the City of Thibodaux
$425,379
Housing Authority of the Parish of Caldwell
$120,859
Housing Authority of the Parish of St. Landry
$158,881
Housing Authority of the Town of Arcadia
$128,153
Housing Authority of the Town of Basile
$24,909
Housing Authority of the Town of Berwick
$145,740
Housing Authority of the Town of Bunkie
$111,269
Housing Authority of the Town of Church Point
$121,869
Housing Authority Of The Town Of Colfax
$97,722
Housing Authority of the Town of Cotton Valley
$18,667
Housing Authority of the Town of Cottonport
$58,193
Housing Authority of the Town of Delcambre
$61,542
Housing Authority of the Town of East Hodge
$27,338
Housing Authority of the Town of Elton
$18,750
Housing Authority of the Town of Erath
$65,273
Housing Authority of the Town of Grambling
$105,029
Housing Authority of the Town of Gueydan
$28,778
Housing Authority of the Town of Haynesville
$132,003
Housing Authority of the Town of Iowa
$63,380
Housing Authority of the Town of Jonesboro
$201,529
Housing Authority of the Town of Kinder
$31,817
Housing Authority of the Town of Lake Arthur
$56,460
Housing Authority of the Town of Lake Providence
$162,931
Housing Authority of the Town of Logansport
$26,850
Housing Authority of the Town of Mamou
$139,987
Housing Authority of the Town of Mansfield
$150,858
Housing Authority of the Town of Marksville
$188,007
Housing Authority of the Town of Merryville
$106,027
Housing Authority of the Town of New Roads
$62,450
Housing Authority of the Town of Oberlin
$20,859
Housing Authority of the Town of Oil City
$78,973
Housing Authority of the Town of Olla
$51,769
Housing Authority of the Town of Patterson
$118,121
Housing Authority of the Town of Pontchatoula
$115,582
Housing Authority of the Town of Rayville
$103,349
Housing Authority of the Town of Simmesport
$66,312
Housing Authority of the Town of Vinton
$67,848
Housing Authority of the Town of Welsh
$38,555
Housing Authority of the Town of White Castle
$156,175
Housing Authority of the Town of Winnsboro
$166,538
Housing Authority of the Town of Youngsville
$20,717
Housing Authority of the Village of Parks
$13,036
Housing Authority of Vernon Parish
$84,214
Housing Authority of Ville Platte
$258,177
Housing Authority of Vivian
$81,443
Housing Authority of Westwego
$362,031
Housing Authority of Winnfield
$127,299
Pineville Housing Authority
$118,848
Southwest Acadia Consolidated Housing Authority
$55,592
Town of Independence HA
$57,631
Village of Fenton Housing Authority
$31,899
Louisiana Total
$37,325,904
HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and http://espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on twitter @HUDnews, on facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD.