- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced Pittsburgh will receive more than $23.3 million to support community development and produce more affordable housing.  HUD's annual funding will also help find homes for individuals and families living on the streets and provide permanent housing for individuals living with HIV/AIDS.

"This funding provides the building blocks needed to improve communities," said Donovan.  "Now, more than ever, these grants promote neighborhood development, produce affordable housing, and help extremely low-income persons find their place in their communities."

The funding announced today includes:

• $18,038,480     in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds;
• $   3,820,559    in HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funding;
• $      731,271    in Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG); and
• $      731,148   for Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA).

          $ 23,321,458     TOTAL

            Since 1974, HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program has provided approximately $132 billion to state and local governments to target their own community development priorities.  The rehabilitation of affordable housing and the improvement of public facilities have traditionally been the largest uses of CDBG although the program is also an important catalyst for job growth and business opportunities.  Annual CDBG funds are distributed to communities according to a statutory formula based on a community's population, poverty, and age of its housing stock, and extent of overcrowded housing. 

HOME (HOME Investment Partnerships Program is the largest federal block grant to state and local governments designed exclusively to produce affordable housing for low-income families.  Since 1992, more than 600 communities have completed nearly 950,000 affordable housing units, including 403,000 for new homebuyers.  In addition, 224,000 tenants have received direct rental assistance.

Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) provides homeless persons with basic shelter and essential supportive services. It can assist with the operational costs of the shelter facility, and for the administration of the grant. ESG also provides short-term homeless prevention assistance to persons at imminent risk of losing their own housing due to eviction, foreclosure, or utility shutoffs.

HUD's Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) grants are distributed to states and cities based on the number of AIDS cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The grants provide resources for operating community residences and providing rental assistance and support services to individuals with HIV/AIDS and their families.  In addition, the HOPWA program also helps many communities develop strategic AIDS housing plans and fill in gaps in local systems of care.  A stable home environment is a critical component for low-income persons managing complex drug therapies and potential side effects from their treatments. 

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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 espanol.hud.gov.