Low-income households

Rental Housing Support Program will assist 4,000 families and individuals over the next several years through rental subsidies

May 2, 2008 -- CHICAGO – Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today launched the country’s largest state rental assistance program that will help extremely low-income residents in Illinois achieve long-term housing stability.

Once fully operational over the next three years, the Rental Housing Support Program will assist an estimated 4,000 “rent burdened” extremely low-income individuals and families and those with special needs find safe and affordable rental housing through rental subsidies.    » read more »

04-23-2008 -- A bill that will assist hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans facing hunger passed the Senate on Tuesday in a unanimous, bipartisan vote, according to the bill's co-author, State Senator Andrew Rice.

"When our neighbors are going hungry, all of us are affected - it's a moral issue. I'm encouraged that all of my Senate colleagues, from both sides of the aisle, share my views and showed they are willing to take immediate action to combat food insecurity," Rice said.

Tulsa, Oklahoma: Photo by a.saliga (CC)    » read more »

April 16, 2008 -- Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Robert Casey (D-PA), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today wrote to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee asking that they include $100 million in the supplemental appropriations bill for emergency funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). The program provides assistance to local food banks, which are currently experiencing severe food aid shortages and seeing higher demand from families strained under our ailing economy.    » read more »

Multi-State Suit Seeks to Overturn Rule that Hurts Needy Patients

April 16, 2008 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that New York is joining a number of other states in suing the federal government over a newly implemented federal Medicaid rule. The new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rule will sharply limit New York’s ability to provide case management to vulnerable populations throughout the state.    » read more »

$7.5 Million Dedicated to Development of Grand River Station in La Crosse

April 14, 2008 -- Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced the recipients of more than $100 million worth of affordable housing tax credits throughout the state, including $7.5 million towards the long-awaited Grand River Station in downtown La Crosse.

Wisconsin Governor Doyle: Photo courtesy Wisconsin Governor's office

The highly competitive credits have a net value spread out over 10 years and will be used to help fund multi-family developments throughout Wisconsin.    » read more »

April 10, 2008 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson and Legislative leaders today announced a historic increase in funding for New York’s housing programs. The Enacted Budget includes more than $300 million in funds that will be used to address the severe shortage of affordable housing impacting New York State.

New York Governor Paterson announced enactment of the 2008-2009 budget: Photo courtesy New York Governor's office    » read more »

April 7, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Russ Feingold is calling on Senate appropriators to fully fund the Low-Income Housing and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for fiscal year 2009. Feingold is requesting $5.1 billion for LIHEAP; the Administration’s budget request would only provide $2 billion, forcing states to either lower benefit amounts or assist fewer people.

Oil furnace plate: Photo by wader (CC)    » read more »

April 2, 2008 -- New York Governor Paterson today announced $1.45 million in grants to help build and renovate 122 units of affordable housing in New York State. The grants—to Kings, Onondaga and Yates counties—reinforce the Governor’s commitment to the creation and preservation of affordable housing throughout the state.

Today’s grants were approved by the New York State Affordable Housing Corporation (AHC), which makes grants to not-for-profit housing organizations around the state to help subsidize the cost of newly constructed homes and the renovation of existing housing.    » read more »

April 2, 2008 -- HONOLULU – Hawaii Governor Lingle has released $1,150,000 to complete the first phase of construction of low-income senior housing at the Hale Mahaolu Ehiku complex in Kīhei. The project is being developed by Hale Mahaolu.

To date, 34 one-bedroom affordable rental units have been completed. This grant-in-aid will allow for the construction of 21 additional units, as well as a manager’s unit, a Harry and Jeanette Weinberg South Maui Senior Center, an adult day care center and an office building to house Hale Mahaolu administrative staff and operations. Subsequent phases will bring the total number of units to 114 and also add a residential care home, dental office, community police substation and office space for support services.    » read more »

March 31, 2008 -- (JACKSON, Mississippi) — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General (OIG) says Mississippi has implemented sound controls regarding how the state determines eligibility and avoids benefit duplication while administering its Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP), and the agency recommends no changes.

Mississippi homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina

The finding is based on an OIG audit of the program using a sample of homeowners who applied October 2006, just months after the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) began processing HAP applications.    » read more »

Low-income people who are not normally required to file federal returns are reminded that they may be eligible for $300 or more in "stimulus payments" - but only if they file their taxes

March 28, 2008 -- New York City Mayor Bloomberg, the Internal Revenue Service, and the United Way of New York City are reminding recipients of Social Security payments and veterans' benefits, as well as low-income New Yorkers whose income does not require them to file taxes, that they may be eligible to receive $300 or more from this year's federal economic stimulus package-but only if they file federal tax returns.    » read more »

Budget Amendment Provides Additional Funding for Health Research, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Washington, D.C. -- March 13, 2008 -- Today, U.S. Senators Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, successfully championed through an amendment to the FY09 Budget Resolution. The amendment, soundly passed by a vote of 95-4, increases funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $2.1 billion.    » read more »

Governor proposes additional $5 million for Food for Families in FY09 to help families offset rising food costs

March 10, 2008 -- CHICAGO — Blagojevich officials today announced that truckloads of food are being delivered to Illinois food banks and pantries through the Food for Families program. Throughout the month of March, nearly 1.5 millions pounds of food will be delivered to the Illinois Food Bank Association (IFBA) to feed 37,500 families in need.    » read more »

March 5, 2008 -- New York Governor Spitzer today announced $4.175 million in grants to build and preserve 169 units of affordable housing throughout New York State. The grants, which will help build units in New York City, Oswego County and Monroe County, are part of the Governor’s efforts to create and expand affordable housing opportunities throughout the state.    » read more »

February 12, 2008 -- NEWARK - While attending the 2008 opening of the Free Tax Preparation Center in Newark, New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine today ceremonially signed two bills to assist low-and moderate-income working New Jersey families. The first bill, S-2647 expands program eligibility and enhances the benefit amount under the New Jersey Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The second bill, A-1698, permits free tax preparation centers (VITA sites) to offer Alternative Refund Anticipation Loans (A-RALs) to low income New Jersey filers without high fees or interest charges.    » read more »