WASHINGTON DC - U.S. Senator Jack Reed today announced that twenty-four Rhode Island cities and towns will receive a total of $21,023,201 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Public Housing Capital Fund Program.  The money may be used to preserve, develop, finance, and modernize public housing in communities across the state.  According to HUD, the Public Housing Capital Fund permits capital expenditures to facilitate programs to improve the empowerment and economic self-sufficiency of public housing residents, such as on-site computer access and training resources.

“A quality, stable home can make all the difference.  It gives kids a chance to grow up in a healthier, safer environment and stay in school and it can help people facing hardships get back on their feet and work toward a brighter future.  These federal funds will help improve public housing for residents.  It will enable local housing agencies to make needed repairs and upgrades while mitigating poverty and social isolation,” said Senator Reed, the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD).  “These federal funds help Rhode Island housing agencies shoulder the costs of upgrades and upkeep of public housing.  It will put more people to work making repairs.  And ultimately, it will help us build stronger, healthier communities.”

The Public Housing Capital Fund Program provides local housing authorities with funding for capital management activities, including the modernization of public housing.  Local agencies can use the funding for a broad array of improvements from routine maintenance needs and the repair of deteriorating utility and plumbing systems and dwelling equipment to the improvement of the security and safety of residents.

Last August, Reed helped advance the FY 2019 THUD Appropriations bill, which rejected President Trump’s proposal to eliminate HUD’s Public Housing Capital Fund Program and included $2.775 billion for the program, $25 million more than the FY 2018 level in order to help preserve this critical affordable housing stock.

In the Trump Administration’s latest budget, the President once again proposed eliminating the Public Housing Capital Fund.  The Trump 2020 budget proposal also calls for cuts to HUD’s rental assistance programs and would slash the Public Housing Operating Fund by more than a third, to $2.9 billion.

Public housing is essential for many Americans, serving millions of low-income residents and families, individuals with disabilities, and seniors while stabilizing neighborhoods throughout Rhode Island and across the United States.  There are more than 9,300 public housing units in Rhode Island.

In Rhode Island, Public Housing Agencies in the following cities and towns will receive funding:

Bristol Housing Authority, $333,435
Burrillville Housing Authority, $170,536
Central Falls Housing Authority, $659,685
Coventry Housing Authority, $324,967
Cranston Housing Authority, $1,099,026
Cumberland Housing Authority, $257,060
East Greenwich Housing Authority, $64,173
East Providence Housing Authority, $779,718
Jamestown Housing Authority, $50,560
Johnston Housing Authority, $261,616
Lincoln Housing Authority, $499,416
Narragansett Housing Authority, $28,932
Newport Housing Authority, $2,334,764
North Providence Housing Authority, $213,523
Pawtucket Housing Authority, $1,970,061
Providence Housing Authority, $6,400,836
Smithfield Housing Authority, $104,638
South Kingstown Housing Authority, $200,176
Tiverton Housing Authority, $81,165
Warren Housing Authority, $252,438
Warwick Housing Authority, $919,056
Westerly Housing Authority, $233,014
West Warwick Housing Authority, $448,287
Woonsocket Housing Authority, $3,336,119

Total: $21,023,201