Monday, July 13, 2009

HUD secretary approves $3.5M in stimulus funds for Cincinnati

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) secretary Shaun Donovan has approved the City of Cincinnati's plan to use a $3.5 million federal grant to help revive its neighborhoods, create affordable housing, and improve public facilities.

HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, will go to 13 projects:

  • Factory Square: $1.6 million for 96 apartments and 30,000 square feet of commercial space at the American Can Building in Northside
  • Emergency shelter improvements: $300,000 to fund acquisition and renovation of emergency shelter for single homeless individuals as part of the Homeless to Homes Plan
  • Warsaw Avenue streetscape: $300,000 for Phase II of the streetscape project from McPherson to Enright avenues, plus one block of St. Lawrence Avenue
  • NEP Homeowner Repair Program: $218,000 to provide forgivable loans to low-income homeowners to correct code violations issued through the Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP)
  • Private lot abatement: $214,000 for the abatement of weeds and litter at approximately 1,637 properties
  • Drug Elimination Program: $100,000 for increased law enforcement and drug elimination in Over-the-Rhine
  • Center for Chemical Addictions Treatment: $97,000 for emergency inpatient service for medically-assisted detoxification
  • YWCA Protection From Abuse and Homelessness Program: $87,000 for supportive services to homeless victims of domestic violence
  • Cincinnati Area Senior Services, Inc.: $58,000 to identify isolated and underserved elderly individuals and draw them into Over-the-Rhine and Mount Auburn senior centers
  • Smart Money Community Services: $42,000 to assist low-income individuals impacted by the recession by providing a secure banking option and financial education
  • Cincinnati Union Bethel: $40,000 for housing for low-income, single women and $40,000 for emergency shelter for homeless women involved in prostitution
  • Stop Aids, Inc. $37,000 for medical case management and educational services for individuals who are HIV-positive
The remainder of the funding will go to administration costs.

Cincinnati's share is part of $1 billion in CDBG funding that will assist in promoting community development by stabilizing property values, prevent neighborhood blight, and create and preserve jobs.

"The President's Recovery Act allows us to invest in local solutions to the many challenges our cities and counties are confronting," said Donovan. "I'm pleased to stand with the people of Cincinnati as they work to build a real and lasting recovery for themselves and their children."

Since 1974, HUD's CDBG program has provided approximately $124 billion to state and local governments.

Previous reading on BC:
Qualls presents Homeless to Homes plan to council (4/23/09)
Factory Square photo update, 4/4/09 (4/22/09)
Second community forum for 'Homeless to Homes' this Wednesday (2/23/09)
New plan to help homeless find homes (10/16/08)
Evanston to receive additional $423K in CDBG funds; Walnut streetscape fund established (8/14/08)