Shaheen, Hassan, and Shea-Porter Announce $545K Grant for Urban Community Development

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) announced a $545,208 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to the City of Portsmouth. The grant will support Portsmouth’s efforts to expand affordable housing, particularly for people experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness, and expand economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate income individuals.

“Every Granite Stater needs a home, and this grant will combat homelessness while prioritizing affordable housing, housing assistance, and economic opportunities for Portsmouth’s must vulnerable residents,” said Shaheen. “I am pleased to announce this funding, and I will continue to advocate for federal dollars to combat the housing crisis affecting New Hampshire families.”

“Community Development Block Grants strengthen our communities, our economy, and our entire state,” said Hassan. “I am pleased to announce this grant that will provide affordable housing in Portsmouth, helping expand economic opportunity for hard-working Granite Staters. I will continue fighting to protect this critical grant funding and to support efforts to address the affordable housing shortages across our state.”

“Stable, affordable housing is key to economic security,” said Shea-Porter. “This federal grant program helps towns and cities like Portsmouth work to address homelessness, generate economic opportunities for low and moderate income residents, and expand affordable housing. We all have a role to play in addressing the shortage of affordable housing in New Hampshire, and this grant program, which I have long supported, is an important tool in this effort.”

HUD’s Office of Community Planning and Development allocates federal funds through CDBG Grants, Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), HOME, Housing Opportunities for Persons with Aids (HOPWA) 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.