WASHINGTON, DC On the heels of cutting Rhode Islands homeland security funding in half, the Bush Administration announced it is significantly reducing federal aid to Rhode Islands public housing programs. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a total of $14,017,585 to public housing authorities throughout the state, which will be distributed through the Capital Fund Program. This is an 8.8% decrease over last years funding of $15.3 million. Nationally, the program decreased by 9.07%."With the cost of real estate sky rocketing, the Bush Administration should not be cutting federal assistance for public housing," said U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI). "Too many Rhode Islanders are unable to live in the communities where they work. This funding is needed to ensure that more affordable housing is available for working-class families all across the state. It also helps modernize and upgrade public housing facilities." The Capital Fund is a formula grant program that provides assistance to public housing agencies for modernization and management improvements. Grant funds may be used for the development, financing and modernization of public housing; for vacancy reduction; and bringing buildings up to code and management improvements."Rhode Island faired better than many other states, but this is still not enough. We need to ensure that working families in Rhode Island can live in safe, high-quality, and affordable housing," said Reed, who is the Ranking Member of the Senate Housing and Transportation Subcommittee, which oversees HUD."I am also working to increase funding for utilities in HUDs operating fund so that public housing authorities can cover their utility costs," concluded Reed. President Bush has already requested that the Capital Fund be decreased by an additional $149 million in next years budget.The housing authorities (HA) receiving HUD funds are:Bristol HA$214,471.00Burrillville HA$101,964.00Central Falls HA$375,812.00Coventry HA$210,195.00Cranston HA$720,370.00Cumberland HA$176,161.00East Greenwich HA$41,655.00East Providence HA$518,249.00HA of Pawtucket$1,529,244.00Jamestown HA$34,892.00Johnston HA$195,093.00Lincoln HA$283,786.00Narragansett HA$18,551.00North Providence HA$154,031.00Portsmouth HA$46,465.00Providence HA$3,916,316.00Smithfield HA$62,650.00South Kingstown HA$120,976.00HA of Newport$1,846,474.00Tiverton HA$55,480.00Warren HA$162,973.00Warwick HA$564,273.00West Warwick HA$255,982.00Westerly HA$146,487.00Woonsocket HA$2,265,035.00Total$14,017,585