Aug 21,2006 - Hud gives Texas $428 Million for Gulf Coast Areas
Housing and Urban Development
Secretary Alphonso Jackson and Donald E. Powell, Federal Coordinator for Gulf
Coast Rebuilding, announced $973 million in disaster funding to help Alabama,
Florida, Mississippi, and Texas to recover from last year's hurricanes.
The emergency funding is provided through HUD's Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and is part of President Bush's
commitment to support the states in their rebuilding efforts.
HUD is allocating the following CDBG assistance to four
Gulf Coast states.
Alabama-$21,225,574
Florida-$100,066,518
Mississippi-$423,036,059
Texas-$428,671,849
“The Bush Administration makes another investment in the
long-term recovery of the Gulf Coast," said Jackson. "These four states can now
develop plans on how they will restore needed affordable housing, rebuild
critical infrastructure and stimulate the economies of areas that all of us are
determined to see recover."
Donald Powell, Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast
Rebuilding, said, "This funding represents another step forward in rebuilding
the Gulf Coast and helping our fellow Americans who continue to need help after
this unprecedented event. These funds will go a long way toward meeting the need
for affordable rental housing, whether through reconstruction or rehabilitation
of existing units, and providing services to those residents who remain
displaced from their homes."
HUD allocated the CDBG supplemental funding based on
Congress's intent that particular emphasis be placed on the repair,
rehabilitation and reconstruction of affordable rental housing. In addition, HUD
placed special priority on the unmet needs of evacuees forced from their own
homes and who are now living in other states.
Last month, HUD awarded $4.2 billion in CDBG disaster
assistance to Louisiana in addition to the $6.2 billion the Department allocated
to the Bayou State earlier this year. The combined $10.4 billion is the
fulfillment of the President's pledge to rebuild Louisiana and will support the
state's "Road Home" programs to encourage the rebuilding of homes and the return
of Louisianans to the state.
Since January, HUD has allocated a total of $16.7 billion
of CDBG funds to Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas to promote
each state's long-term recovery in the aftermath of last year's hurricanes.
These states are using these funds to develop plans that include helping
thousands of homeowners, promoting affordable rental housing and restoring
critical infrastructure.