WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to help revitalize neighborhoods and provide more Rhode Islanders with access to safe and affordable housing, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today announced that the communities of Cranston, Warwick, Woonsocket, and Providence will receive a total of $13,256,639 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

"These federal dollars will go a long way to help ensure that some of Rhode Island's largest communities are able to provide quality affordable housing to more working families and seniors," stated Reed, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, which overseas federal housing policy.

The funds are provided through five different HUD programs: the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), the Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME), the Emergency Shelter Grant Program (ESG), the American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI), and the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA).

Cranston - CDBG - $1,088,883

Warwick - CDBG - $902,245

Woonsocket - CDBG - $1,357,848

Woonsocket - HOME - $541,104

Woonsocket - ESG - $58,491

Providence - CDBG - $5,739,248

Providence - HOME - $2,511,574

Providence - HOPWA - $773,000

Providence - ESG - $247,185

Providence - ADDI - $37,061

TOTAL: $13,256,639

The CDBG program funds programs that are designed to assist low- and moderate-income residents, including rehabilitating public buildings, providing low-cost loans and increasing services to neighborhood and senior centers.

The HOME program will allocate funding to assist in rehabilitating housing and the production of affordable rental and homeowner housing.

ESG funds will be distributed to public and private organizations for assistance in providing emergency shelters for the homeless.

ADDI aims to increase the homeownership rate, especially among lower income and minority households, and to revitalize and stabilize communities. ADDI helps first-time homebuyers with downpayments and closing costs. The program was created to assist low-income first-time homebuyers in purchasing single-family homes by providing funds for downpayment, closing costs, and rehabilitation carried out in conjunction with the assisted home purchase.

HOPWA provides grants to local communities, states, and non profit organizations for projects that benefit low-income individuals who have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and there families.

Reed has been a consistent supporter of these housing assistance programs.

Last month, he unveiled bipartisan legislation to provide over $1.8 billion for targeted homelessness assistance grant programs. The Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act of 2007 would increase current levels of funding for homelessness assistance grants by $350 million and allocate $250 in additional funding for homelessness prevention initiatives.

In March, Reed joined Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) in introducing legislation to reauthorize the successful Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere (HOPE VI) grant program. HOPE VI provides federal funding to restore dilapidated public housing units and has helped revitalize distressed neighborhoods across the country.