Reed Announces $12.9 Million to Improve RI Affordable Housing

As top Democrat on THUD Appropriations Committee, Senator Reed led effort to secure
funds to help 25 local housing authorities with upkeep and preservation of public
housing

WASHINGTON DC – In an effort to ensure families, seniors, and vulnerable citizens
have access to safe, quality housing, U.S. Senator Jack Reed today announced that
twenty-five Rhode Island cities and towns, home to more than 9,400 public housing
households, will receive nearly $12.9 million in federal funding to develop,
finance, and modernize public housing in their communities. The grants are awarded
to Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) through the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development’s (HUD) Public Housing Capital Fund Program.

«This federal funding will help Rhode Island housing authorities preserve affordable
housing, build stronger neighborhoods, and put more contractors to work making
necessary repairs,» said Reed, the top Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee
that oversees the program. «It is important that we do everything we can to reduce
poverty and homelessness and help local housing agencies make much-needed
improvements to preserve their aging housing stock.»

As the Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation,
Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, Senator Reed included $1.9
billion for the Public Housing Capital Fund and $4.5 billion for the Public Housing
Operating Fund in the 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill for a combined $6.4 billion
in resources to support the operation and capital management of the nation’s public
housing stock. This funding level ensures PHAs can take the necessary steps to
protect residents from living in unsafe, inaccessible, and unsecure homes.

Local housing agencies can use Public Housing Capital Fund resources to make a broad
array of capital improvements: from addressing deferred maintenance to the
replacement of obsolete utility systems and dwelling equipment. This funding is
also used to improve the security and safety of public housing residents.

Public housing is essential, providing affordable housing to approximately 1.1
million low-income, disabled, senior citizens and families throughout the country.
The Public Housing Capital Fund enables housing agencies to maintain, improve, and
preserve this housing stock, to ensure units are not deemed unlivable and families
are not displaced.

«Lack of affordable housing is an issue in communities across the state and the
nation. This funding allows housing agencies to make critical improvements that
help ensure Rhode Islanders have access to a safe, secure, decent, and affordable
place to live and an opportunity to build a better life,» said Reed.

Public Housing Agencies in the following cities and towns will receive funding:

Bristol: $199,969
Burrillville: $98,832
Central Falls: $399,295
Coventry: $190,784
Cranston: $667,545
Cumberland: $155,623
East Greenwich: $38,777
East Providence: $514,486
Jamestown: $29,541
Johnston: $160,954
Lincoln: $289,315
Narragansett: $16,232
Newport: $1,643,455
North Providence: $138,532
Pawtucket: $1,460,019
Portsmouth: $44,409
Providence: $3,600,004
Smithfield: $60,435
South Kingstown: $108,488
Tiverton: $52,711
Warren: $152,791
Warwick: $558,164
Westerly: $130,642
West Warwick: $252,632
Woonsocket: $1,890,156

Total: $12,853,791