Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants encourage holistic approach to revitalizing communities
WASHINGTON, DC – January 11, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that it is making available $110 million in grants to transform public and assisted housing and to revitalize communities. Appearing in today’s Federal Register is the Notice of Funding Availability, the federal application, for the FY 2012 Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Program. Read HUD’s funding notice.
For nearly 20 years, HUD’s HOPE VI Revitalization Program successfully transformed severely distressed public housing into revitalized mixed-income communities. By contrast, HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods Initiative seeks a more comprehensive approach to neighborhood transformation.
“We make these funds available for communities that are serious about breathing new life into areas that have seen very little public investment over the years,” said HUD Assistant Secretary Sandra Henriquez. “These grants will help provide communities the building blocks they need to take a holistic approach toward transforming these neighborhoods where anyone would be proud to call home.”
Earlier today, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan awarded $3.6 million in Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grantsto help 13 communities across the country lay the foundation for neighborhood revitalization. The Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants made available today are intended to put community planning from the drawing board and put them into action. Choice Neighborhoods is focused on three core goals:
- Housing: Transform distressed public and assisted housing into energy efficient, mixed-income housing that is physically and financially viable over the long-term;
- People: Support positive outcomes for families who live in the target development(s) and the surrounding neighborhood, particularly outcomes related to residents?health, safety, employment, mobility, and education; and
- Neighborhood: Transform neighborhoods of poverty into viable, mixed-income neighborhoods with access to well-functioning services, high quality public schools and education programs, high quality early learning programs and services, public assets, public transportation, and improved access to jobs.
To achieve these core goals, communities must have in place a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy, or Transformation Plan. This Transformation Plan is the guiding document for the revitalization of the public and/or assisted housing units, while simultaneously directing the transformation of the surrounding neighborhood and positive outcomes for families.
Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grants are available for public housing authorities, local governments, nonprofit organizations, tribal entities, and for profit developers that apply jointly with a public entity to extend neighborhood transformation efforts beyond public and/or assisted housing. The program helps communities transform neighborhoods by revitalizing severely distressed public and/or HUD-assisted multi-family housing and investing and leveraging investments in well-functioning services, high quality public schools and education programs, high quality early learning programs and services, public assets, public transportation, and improved access to jobs.
Last August, HUD awarded its first-ever Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grants, a combined $122 million, to stimulate neighborhood revitalization in Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, San Francisco and Seattle.
Choice Neighborhoods links housing improvements with a wider variety of public services including schools, public transit and employment opportunities. The program also widens the traditional pool of eligible applicants by allowing local governments, nonprofits and for-profit developers that submit joint applications with a public entity.
Choice Neighborhoods is a centerpiece of the Obama Administration’s interagency Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, a partnership between HUD and the Departments of Education, Justice, Treasury and Health and Human Services. With support from the White House Domestic Policy Council and White House Office of Urban Affairs, the interagency partnership supports local solutions for sustainable, mixed-income neighborhoods with the affordable housing, safe streets and good schools all families need.
Applicants have until April 10, 2012 to apply for FY 2012 Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grants. HUD anticipates awarding four to five grants with a maximum award of $30,000,000 each in December 2012. Applicants must submit their applications electronically through www.grants.gov.
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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.
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Contact:
Donna White
(202) 708-0685
