NH Delegation Announces $1.35M in Federal Funding for Urban Community Development & Affordable Housing in New Hampshire
(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Congresswomen Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) and Annie Kuster (NH-02) announced $1,346,482 in grants for urban community development and affordable housing in New Hampshire from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These grants include $658,301 to Nashua and $290,005 to Dover in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), and a $398,176 HOME Grant to Nashua. These grants are an increase of $198,404 from the previous year, and will support efforts to expand affordable housing throughout New Hampshire, particularly for people experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness, and expand economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate income individuals.
“The affordable housing shortage in New Hampshire leaves far too many families without a place to call home,” said Shaheen, who advocated for this funding as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “These new grants for Nashua and Dover will help expand affordable housing so that more Granite Staters can find and maintain a home. Addressing the housing crisis is an important priority of mine in Congress, and I will continue to work across the aisle to address it.”
“The affordable housing crisis in New Hampshire is impacting individuals and families across our state, leaving far too many Granite Staters without a safe, affordable place to call home,” said Hassan. “I am pleased to announce these grants for Nashua and Dover, which will help provide affordable housing and expand economic opportunity for lower-income Granite Staters.”
“I’m pleased to announce that the City of Dover will be receiving $290,000 from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to support affordable housing programs and to help expand economic opportunity,” said Shea-Porter. “This funding will help support organizations in the Dover area that help homeless individuals find housing, coordinate case management for people living with HIV/AIDS, provide housing to domestic violence victims fleeing abuse, and assist Dover residents with weatherization for their homes. The Community Development Block Grant program helps communities across our state address critical funding needs. I will continue working to support this important program.”
“Investing in the well-being and success of people who are vulnerable and struggling financially is beneficial to everyone,” said Kuster. “These funds will help Nashua increase the number of its residents who have the stability that comes with a safe and affordable place to live. In addition, the funds will expand opportunities for people with low and more modest incomes to make a decent living and contribute to our state’s economy. I’m glad to join my colleagues for this announcement, and I look forward to our continued work together to help ensure all Granite Staters can get ahead and thrive.”
“The City of Nashua is pleased to implement this year’s action plan that incorporates CDBG and HOME funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,” said Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess. “The action plan is a reflection of our community’s highest needs, directed by input from Nashua residents.”
“The City of Dover is happy to announce that the federal funds received from the CDBG program will be used to support programs and initiatives that provide significant support to those among us that are experiencing the greatest need,” said Dover Mayor Karen Weston. “Programs funded through our Action Plan serve the homeless and organizations which provide safe harbors to victims of abuse. We appreciate receiving this critically necessary funding.”
HUD’s Office of Community Planning and Development allocates federal funds through CDBG Grants, ESG Grants, HOME, HOPWA Grants and Housing Trust Fund (HTF) programs. These programs will support local efforts to develop urban communities, provide decent housing, expand economic opportunities, address homelessness, fund housing programs, provide housing assistance for projects benefitting low-income persons medically diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and their families, and increase and preserve the supply of decent, safe, and sanitary affordable housing for extremely low- and very low-income households, including homeless families.
