HUD awards $6.9 million in funding to four DE public housing authorities

Four Delaware public-housing authorities have been awarded $6.9 million in funding to make much-needed capital improvement, U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Joseph J. DeFelice announced Feb. 14.

The grants are part of $2.7 billion in grants to public housing authorities in all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The funding will allow agencies to make needed capital improvements to their properties.

The Wilmington Housing Authority received the bulk of the Delaware grants with $4.8 million. The Delaware State Housing Authority received just over $1 million; the Dover Housing Authority got nearly $742,000; and the Newark Housing Authority received $297,310.

“The WHA and the City of Wilmington are partners in an effort to strengthen City neighborhoods by improving the living conditions of children and families,” said Mayor Mike Purzycki. “Public housing is part of nearly every neighborhood in the City. HUD’s continuing support means a great deal. I know that the City and WHA will continue to focus their combined efforts on improving housing opportunities, which furthers the goals of making Wilmington a safer, cleaner and more prosperous City. My thanks to HUD for supporting a brighter future for Wilmington.”

“As I tour public housing properties throughout the region, I see the overwhelming need for improvements that are well beyond routine maintenance,” DeFelice said in a statement. “While HUD’s capital funds will help, public-private partnerships are the key to leveraging capital that will have a meaningful and lasting impact—one that will truly revitalize communities.” 

HUD uses the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), a comprehensive strategy that complements the Capital Fund Program, to help provide residents with decent, safe and sanitary housing and respond to the growing demand for affordable rental housing, RAD offers a long-term solution to preserve and enhance the country’s affordable housing stock, including leveraging public and private funding to make critically needed improvements.