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Every week, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) publishes news about important events within the agency. The following are summaries of news for the week of December 22, 2021:
- HUD grants $13 million to protect families from lead poisoning
- HUD awards additional funds for Foster Youth Housing
- HUD awards $18 Million in voucher funds for homeless veterans
HUD grants $13 million to protect families from lead poisoning
Date Posted: December 16, 2021
HUD awarded a little more than $13 million from Healthy Homes Supplemental funding to state and local governments in California, Ohio, and Tennessee to pay for efforts to protect families from lead-based paint and home health hazards.
What does this mean for renters?
Secretary Marcia L. Fudge stated, “These grants will enable families to live in homes that are healthier as a result of our, and their city government’s efforts.”
These new grants make up the second round of grants awarded this year. Earlier HUD awarded $95 million to 28 states and local government agencies in 19 states, in the first round of awards.
The largest awards from the first round went to Springfield, Illinois; Harris County, Texas; Westchester County, New York; Phoenix, Arizona and Los Angeles County in California. The City of Flint, Michigan also received substantial funding.
More information about these awards for lead poisoning protection can be found here.
HUD awards additional funds for Foster Youth Housing
Date Posted: December 16, 2021
Twenty-six Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) are receiving a total of more than $1 million to prevent homelessness faced by youth aging out of foster care.
What does this mean for renters?
Danielle Bastarache, HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Housing and Voucher Programs stated:
“Every young person deserves the opportunity to live with housing stability. HUD’s Foster Youth to Independence Initiative has made that a reality for hundreds of youths by helping to provide access to housing for those who are aging out of foster care. Our department is pleased to provide additional funding to public housing agencies across the country so they can support more individuals as they lay the foundation for their future success.”
In September, HUD awarded more than $14 million to fund prevention of foster youth homelessness to 18 PHAs. These housing authorities applied for the funds through the Homelessness Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Competitive Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).
More information about these these FYI funds can be found here.
HUD awards $18 Million in voucher funds for homeless veterans
Date Posted: December 20, 2021
HUD has awarded $18 million to fund 2,050 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers in 33 states to support veterans experiencing homelessness. As of December 16th, the total number of VASH vouchers has reached 106,704.
What does this mean for renters?
VASH vouchers provide housing with an array of supportive services. The VASH program is a combination of rental assistance from HUD and case management and clinical services provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
A breakdown of the VASH awards by recipient is available here.
