Congressman Fattah Announces $60 Million in Housing Grants for Philadelphia

The funds include $39 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)

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Aug 25, 2014, 09:34 ET

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (PA-02), a Senior Member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced today that the City of Philadelphia has been awarded more than $60 million in grant funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including $39,308,769 in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). The CDBG funds will go towards programs that will improve economic opportunities for low-income individuals and families, including job creation, affordable housing, and infrastructure projects. Philadelphia will also receive grant funding from the HOME program ($8,946,920), Emergency Solutions Grants program ($3,253,542), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS or HOPWA ($9,469,519).

A long-time supporter of CDBG, Fattah recently introduced a resolution recognizing the 40^th anniversary of the program, which helps strengthen local communities across the country. As co-chairman of the bipartisan House Urban Caucus, Congressman Fattah has been one of the strongest Congressional advocates for the Community Development Block Grants.

"These CDBG funds will allow the City of Philadelphia to use them where they're needed most: strengthening neighborhoods, securing more affordable housing, creating new jobs, and lifting up low and middle-income families. They are a critical funding source for so many of our city's most successful neighborhood revitalization programs," Congressman Fattah said. "The additional housing grants will allow thousands more individuals in the community to secure both temporary and permanent housing. CDBG remains a lifeline for Philadelphia, and cities across the country, and I am proud to be a champion of this important source of community funding."

HUD has reported that CDBG funds help more than 2.1 million individuals annually in Philadelphia. Nationally, between 2005 and 2013, the program was responsible for creating or retaining 330,500 jobs, and providing public services to over 100 million individuals.

For additional information on CDBG and HUD funding to local communities, visit: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/comm_planning/communitydevelopment/programs

www.fattah.house.gov

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah