Low-income households

May 15, 2009 -- OLYMPIA – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today signed House Bill 1216, which funds key construction projects statewide.

“The capital budget I am signing today will support more than 13,000 jobs at its peak,” Gregoire said. “These jobs are critical in helping our state recover from the economic downturn. At the same time, the investments build the infrastructure needed to keep Washington at the forefront of the 21st century economy.”

The 2009–11 capital budget invests $3.3 billion in construction projects throughout the state and includes funds to:
• Support K-12 school construction
• Provide adequate housing for inmates
• Construct adequate facilities for college students
• Protect the environment    » read more »

Washington, DC - 05/12/2009 - Many low-income students miss out on college because they don’t know how much it actually costs or how to get access to billions of dollars in financial aid, according to a report released today by Pew’s Economic Mobility Project.

This matters, say the report's authors, because postsecondary education is among the most important factors in determining whether a person achieves the American Dream of upward economic mobility. The report, Promoting Economic Mobility by Increasing Postsecondary Education, emphasizes that America is no longer a country where a high school diploma is the reliable gateway to getting a decent job and building a good life. It has become increasingly difficult to advance in society without some level of higher education.    » read more »

May 12, 2009 -- Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation (GCCF) today announced a unique low and moderate income housing rehabilitation partnership funded through the state’s $5.4 billion Hurricane Katrina Recovery Fund.

“Geared toward those Hurricane Katrina victims who can’t afford to repair or replace their home, this initiative is another example of how our state is using our federally appropriated Katrina recovery dollars to leverage the knowledge and resources of locally based organizations,” Governor Barbour said.    » read more »

More than $163 Million Helping Thousands of New Jerseyans

May 11, 2009 -- WEST TRENTON – New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine announced today that more than $28 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) benefits and State Food Purchase Program assistance will be distributed throughout the state beginning this week. The funding, part of the Governor’s Economic Assistance and Recovery Plan, includes $26.4 million for LIHEAP and $1.85 million for food assistance. This brings the total for assistance funds disseminated to over $156 million for home energy assistance and $7 million for food banks.    » read more »

Funding renews critical lifeline for hundreds of persons at risk for homelessness

May 8, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - Seven local programs that offer critically needed housing and support services to extremely low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS are being awarded $8 million in grants announced today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. These grants will help hundreds of persons and their families struggling to find a stable home as they receive the services they need to manage their illnesses.    » read more »

May 7, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today unveiled the Department's fiscal year 2010 budget, which focuses on responsibility, effectiveness and transparency. The proposed 2010 budget exercises strong fiscal discipline, consolidating or eliminating 27 programs and activities, and investing in initiatives to increase transparency and accountability.    » read more »

CDBG funding designed to build critical infrastructure and create jobs

May 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - In an effort to stimulate community development and job growth, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today allocated $1 billion in funding to nearly 1,200 state and local governments through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). These grants will be provided through HUD's long-standing Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and will primarily benefit low- to moderate-income persons living in these communities.    » read more »

April 24, 2009 -- WEST ALLIS - Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced $111,877,624 million for Milwaukee-area schools which will be used for special education and for schools with a high percentage of low-income students. The funding is part of $366 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding released yesterday by the Governor and State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster for Wisconsin school districts. The Governor made the announcement at Irving Elementary School in West Allis.    » read more »

Canaan House receives energy efficiency improvements as part of a program to reduce energy costs

April 22, 2009 -- LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear recognized Earth Day in Lexington today at a shelter that is receiving extensive energy efficiency improvements as a part of Kentucky’s Clean Energy Corps (KCEC).

Joined by Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry, environmental and business representatives and volunteers, Gov. Beshear toured the Canaan House, a residential facility for homeless persons with severe mental illness. The visit was part of the Clean Energy Hybrid Bus Tour, which made stops in five counties today to tour some of the more than a dozen low to moderate-income homes receiving energy efficiency improvements through KCEC.    » read more »

Housing Tax Credits Awarded to Projects in Three Iowa Communities

April 8, 2009 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver announced today that the state of Iowa will award more than $40 million in Housing Tax Credits to finance the construction of new affordable housing in Davenport, Des Moines and Waterloo.

“These awards mean that up to 257 Iowa families and individuals will have access to safe, decent and affordable housing in our state,” Governor Culver said. “What’s more, these awards will enable the construction of two new buildings and the rehabilitation of two more, generating and supporting good jobs. I congratulate the developers of these projects and I thank them for their efforts to create new housing and new employment opportunities in our state.”    » read more »

Recovery Act Funding to increase jobs, promote energy efficiency

March 24, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - Just over a month after President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban announced today that, subject to HUD approval, public housing authorities can begin spending nearly $3 billion to make significant improvements to tens of thousands of public housing units nationwide. HUD is informing 3,122 local housing authorities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands that spending can begin on a backlog of previously underfunded capital improvement projects.    » read more »

Senior nutrition programs will help more elders maintain independence

March 20, 2009 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today announced that Florida will receive more than $7.2 million in funding to support senior nutrition programs in Florida through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The funding includes $4.8 million for congregate nutrition services provided at senior centers and other community sites and nearly $2.4 million for home-delivered meals to help homebound elders.    » read more »

March 18, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Ray LaHood today announced a new partnership to help American families gain better access to affordable housing, more transportation options, and lower transportation costs.

The average working American family spends nearly 60 percent of its budget on housing and transportation costs, making these two areas the largest expenses for American families. Donovan and LaHood want to seek ways to cut these costs by focusing their efforts on creating affordable, sustainable communities.    » read more »

Will support energy efficiency efforts nationwide that will create 87,000 jobs and cut energy bills for families

March 12, 2009 -- Washington DC -- Vice President Joe Biden and Energy Secretary Chu today detailed an investment of nearly $8 billion in state and local weatherization and energy efficiency efforts as part of the President's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. With an investment of about $5 billion through the Weatherization Assistance Program and about $3 billion for the State Energy Program, the Department of Energy will partner with state and local governments to put 87,000 Americans to work and save families hundreds of dollars per year on their energy bills.    » read more »

Signs executive order to help ensure all Illinois citizens have access to affordable energy services

SPRINGFIELD – March 10, 2009. On Tuesday, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn addressed the annual meeting of the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies at the Prairie Capitol Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, Springfield. The organization serves as a network for Illinois’ not-for-profit corporations and units of government that aid Illinois’ low-income population.    » read more »