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Virginia Rolls Out New Rural Housing
Initiative Expected to Rehab Approximately 130 Homes
— Grants will serve critical projects outside the
reach of other funding program —
RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced the
Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development has awarded $3.6
million in federal HOME funds for critical housing projects in Virginia’s rural
communities. Nineteen grantee organizations will receive up to $250,000 each for
critical and special needs housing rehabilitation projects. DHCD expects to
rehabilitate approximately 130 housing units to benefit more than 275 low- to
moderate-income Virginians.
The funding is available through the Rural Virginia Housing Rehabilitation
Demonstration Program - a flexible, one-time investment program created to fund
rural housing projects outside the scope of other major housing rehabilitation
programs.
“There is a strong connection between successful economic development and
quality housing conditions,” said Governor Warner. “As we work to attract
businesses and jobs to Virginia’s rural communities, we must also work to
improve our rural housing and living conditions. This is an excellent example of
how government can listen to local input and redesign a program to better meet
the needs it’s trying to serve - and how vitally important it is for the federal
budget to continue to support housing needs through the HOME and CDBG programs.”
Virginia’s
Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) created the Rural
Housing Demonstration Program based public input sessions regarding Virginia’s
HOME funding allocation. Local government officials, housing providers, and
citizens expressed a need for a rural housing program to fund projects that fall
outside of the scope of the Community Development Block Grant and Indoor
Plumbing Rehabilitation programs. DHCD allocated $3.6 million in HOME funds from
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to create this
demonstration program.
DHCD accepted applications on a competitive basis from eligible grantees in
Virginia’s non-entitlement localities. Applicants established their own
prioritization and program design for local, unmet housing rehabilitation needs.
“This demonstration program is unique because each project is designed
locally to meet specific local housing needs,” said Bill Shelton, DHCD Director.
“It allows us to rehabilitate homes that have fallen through the funding cracks
but yet are in great need of repair. The program will also create homeownership
opportunities and support more accessible housing for senior citizens and people
with disabilities.”
DHCD is a state agency that works in partnership to make Virginia’s communities
safe, affordable, and prosperous places in which to live, work, and do business.
Each year DHCD provides millions of dollars in state and federal funds for
critical housing and community development projects in Virginia’s smaller, rural
communities. The majority of DHCD funded projects help low- to moderate-income
persons. For more information about DHCD, go to www.dhcd.virginia.gov or call
(804) 371-7000.
Rural Virginia Housing Rehabilitation Demonstration Program Grant Awards
(Applicant,
Project, Amount)
- Albemarle Housing Improvement, Albemarle County
Housing Rehab, $200,000
- Alleghany County, Housing Help in the Highlands, $123,850
- Amelia County, Lodge Court Housing Rehab, $250,000
- Bay Aging, Bay Aging Rural Housing Rehab, $142,200
- Cumberland Plateau Housing Authority, Handicap-Accessible
Homeownership, $196,000
- ElderHomes Corporation, Rural Housing Rehab Program,
$200,000
- Fauquier Housing Corporation, Rural Housing Demonstration
Program, $200,000
- Fluvanna/Louisa County Housing, Pre-1976 Mobile Home
Replacement, $200,000
- Housing Partnerships, Inc., York County Scattered Site Home
Repair, $177,500
- James City County, Rural Housing Demonstration Program,
$200,000
- Lee County Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Housing
Rehab Project for Families with Safety and Health Hazards, $160,450
- PEOPLE Inc., Rural Housing Rehab Program, $200,000
- Rural Areas Development Assoc., Scott and Wise Counties
Housing Rehab, $200,000
- Smyth County, Pilot Housing Rehabilitation Program,
$200,000
- Southside Outreach Group, Halifax County Rehab Pilot
Program, $200,000
- Southside Planning District, Pilot Housing Rehab Project,
$200,000
- STOP, Rural Housing Rehab Project, $200,000
- Telemon Corporation, Telemon Housing Rehabilitation
Program, $200,000
- Waynesboro Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Spot Blight
Program, $150,000.
For more information, see The Daily
Progress article on
Monday, April 18, 2005
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