Washington, D.C. – August 10, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Eliot Engel announced that Rockland County was awarded three housing grants totaling $3,273,306 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The three grants awarded are:
- 2,065,725 – Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG).
- $1,115,317 – HOME Program
- $92,264 – Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG)
Rep. Engel said, “Housing is a necessity and the more we can do to help people have adequate housing, the better off we all will be. These grants support people in Rockland who are most in need of assistance, to find more affordable housing and better economic opportunities. This will also help neighborhoods expand their revitalization efforts, and provide a boost to the towns and villages across Rockland during this time of economic hardship.”
The CDBG program provides grants to provide decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, primarily for low- and moderate-income people. Annual CDBG funds are distributed to communities according to formulas based on population, poverty, pre-1940s housing stock, growth lag and housing overcrowding.
The HOME program helps expand the supply of decent, affordable housing to low- and very low-income families by providing grants to fund housing programs to meet local needs.
The ESG program provides annual grants to state, local and private entities to improve the quality and number of emergency homeless shelters.
