Cicilline, Langevin Announce $450K in Federal Funding for Affordable Housing, Community Development
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressmen David N. Cicilline (D-RI) and Jim Langevin (D-RI)
today announced that Rhode Island community organizations are receiving nearly
$450,000 through NeighborWorks America to support affordable housing and
revitalizing local communities. NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley is receiving a
grant of $258,000, while the West Elmwood Housing Development Corp. is receiving
$188,000 in new funds.
«Quality affordable housing is the bedrock of the middle class, and this investment
will give more Rhode Island families the opportunity to find a new home,» said
Cicilline who advocated for a $35 million increase in annual federal support for
NeighborWorks America. «Benefitting families in West Elmwood and across the
Blackstone Valley, these resources will open the door to a new life for so many
Rhode Islanders. It’s vital that we continue to ramp up support for effective
programs like these that have a proven record of delivering results for Rhode
Island.»
«Too many families lack access to the safe and affordable housing that is vital for
financial stability and economic security,» said Langevin. «I am pleased this grant
funding will provide needed investments to revitalize our neighborhoods and help
Rhode Island families find a place to call home. Woonsocket and Providence will use
these additional resources to fund community development and support counselling
services for families in need.»
The final government spending bill approved by Congress and signed by the President
included $140 million for NeighborWorks America. It also boosted support for
affordable housing and community development, including increases of $1.25 billion
for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, $808.5 million for the Public Housing Capital
Fund, $412 million for HOME Investment Partnerships, and $175.6 million for Housing
for the Elderly, among others.
NeighborWorks America supports more than 245 local and regional non-profit partner
residents. Since it was established in 1978, NeighborWorks America has worked to
advance affordable housing in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto
Rico.
«With the generous support of Congress, NeighborWorks America is proud to award
these grants to NeighborWorks network organizations throughout all fifty states,
Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia to provide affordable housing
opportunities, build strong neighborhoods, and create jobs. Through our strong
investment in our network, we franchise excellence throughout our nearly 250
organizations,» said NeighborWorks America’s Interim President and CEO Jeffrey
Bryson. «A strong indicator of the value of these grants is that in fiscal year
2017, we leveraged $59 dollars of other investments for every $1 provided by
Congress to NeighborWorks America – resulting in a direct investment of $8.3 billion
in communities across the country.»
In FY 2017, NeighborWorks America and the NeighborWorks network provided over
455,000 housing and counseling services, including:
* 22,700 homeowners created
* 15,200 quality, affordable rental homes developed
* 12,500 affordable homes preserved
* 71,300 homes repaired
* 165,500 quality, affordable rental homes owned and/or managed
* 181,400 families and individuals counseled on financial capacity,
pre-purchase, post-purchase, or foreclosure issues, and
* 17,000 training certificates issued
NeighborWorks is a Congressionally-chartered nonprofit that supports a network of
nearly 250 nonprofit organizations, located in every state, the District of
Columbia, and Puerto Rico by providing grants, technical assistance, and
best-in-class training that assists their efforts to build and maintain affordable
housing and to engage in community development initiatives. In fiscal year 2016,
NeighborWorks funding leveraged $7.1 billion in investments in communities across
the country and over $50 million in Rhode Island. It helped more than 360,000
families nationwide, including 2,069 in the Ocean State, to obtain affordable
housing. NeighborWorks organizations also created or maintained more than 53,600
jobs and helped 21,000 individuals and families purchase homes nationwide, including
324 jobs and 130 new homeowners in Rhode Island.