Media Room > Press Releases > Housing Authorities Move Quickly to Put Recovery Act Funds to Work
Housing Authorities Move Quickly to Put Recovery Act Funds to Work
Washington, D.C. – March 23, 2010 -- Public housing
authorities (PHAs) have obligated virtually 100% of the $3 billion they
received in Recovery Act formula funds, according to the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development. Out of the nation’s 3,100 PHAs, only 21 were
unable to meet the deadline, returning $3 million to HUD; all CLPHA members
obligated their funds.
These Recovery Act funds will:
Generate
thousands of jobs
Bring
thousands of uninhabitable units back on line
Make
substantial capital improvements to the $145 billion asset that is public
housing
Improve
energy efficiency, resulting in tax dollar savings
Communities will also see increased economic activity, since
every dollar in PHA spending generates an additional $2.17 in local spending.
Housing authorities faced significant obstacles in meeting
the goal. The usual two-year timeline for obligation was cut to one year, and
they were handling these additional capital funds along with annual capital
fund appropriations.
“Public housing was included in the Recovery Act because the
industry was able to clearly demonstrate the scope of critical, unfunded capital
projects,” said Sunia Zaterman, CLPHA Executive Director. “Housing authorities
have shown we can put significant resources to work in communities quickly, and
effectively.”
“We said we could do it, and we did.”
She said that HUD headquarters and field staff worked with
PHAs to move the process forward, including sharing information that helped the
industry stay on track.
CLPHA also worked closely with HUD to remove early obstacles
to spending the money. One example was helping clarify the initially vague
requirements of the ‘Buy American’ provision.
PHAs are also well on their way to meeting the next
deadlines for obligating the $1 billion in capital fund competitive grants
awarded beginning in September 2009. (Examples of how that money will be spent
are here.)
Sample Recovery Act Formula Fund Projects:
The Boston
Housing Authority received $33.3 million and anticipates creating close to
700 jobs over the next few years. Among the work it will undertake:
Building
100 new affordable rental units
Upgrading
and modernize over 600 bathrooms and/or ventilation
Replacing
outdated underground fuel with modern spill-proof, environmentally
compliant tanks
