Last week the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced it will send $2 million to public housing authorities (PHAs) across the Sunshine State to help people with disabilities and through vouchers.
The funds are part of $24.7 million sent to 98 PHAs across the nation which will allow “these PHAs to house up to 2,210 additional families, and further support community integration for persons with disabilities.”
U.S. HUD Sec. Marcia Fudge weighed in on the funds last week.
“People with disabilities deserve access to affordable housing that meets their needs,” said Fudge. “Today’s funding is an important step forward – one that will help more persons with disabilities serve as fully integrated members of their communities and allow them to live independently and with dignity.”
“This housing assistance announced today, provided through the HUD’s Section 811 Mainstream Housing Choice Voucher Program, which offers funding to housing agencies to assist non-elderly persons with disabilities who are transitioning out of institutional or other isolated settings, at serious risk of institutionalization, homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless. Mainstream partners, including Centers for Independent Living, state protection and advocacy agencies, Medicaid agencies, and Continuums of Care, collaborate with the PHAs to assist with the application and housing search process,” HUD announced.
“To help PHAs address rental market conditions that are creating challenges with Mainstream leasing, HUD awarded both new vouchers and extraordinary administrative fees. The $5 million of extraordinary administrative fees awarded in this round of funding to 88 PHAs can be used to support housing search and leasing up of eligible applicants, in addition to easing costs related to the retention, recruitment, and support of participating owners. This will include security deposits, signing bonuses, vacancy payments, and damage mitigation. All of this will allow PHAs to improve their processes so that families can successfully use their Mainstream voucher,” HUD continued.
The Deland Housing Authority will get $89,903 for 10 vouchers while HUD will send $95,676 to the HA Lee County for 10 vouchers. HUD will send almost $104,000 to the Seminole County Housing Authority for 10 vouchers. The Orlando Housing Authority will get $288,648for 30 vouchers. The Tampa Housing Authority will get $477,816 for 40 vouchers. The Miami-Dade Housing Authority will be getting $706,098 for 50 vouchers and $280,000 in EAF funding.The Housing Authority of the City of Lakeland will get $22,500 in EAF Funding. HUD is sending $37,500 to the Pinellas County Housing Authority in EAF funding. The Housing Authority of New Smyrna Beach will get $69,000in EAF funding.
