Boston -The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that it is recognizing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the cities of Springfield and Somerville with its coveted “Doorknocker Award” for their outstanding work in producing affordable housing. From creating a stable living environment for those with disabilities to providing rental assistance to homeless veterans, each community represents a model for developing innovative housing solutions to meet their specific needs. (See below for description of Massachusetts developments honored)
HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan announced the awards to 11 local communities and three state agencies for their exceptional use of funding provided through HUD’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program. The announcement of the “Doorknocker Awards” coincides with the 20th anniversary of the HOME Program, the largest federal block grant program dedicated to producing affordable housing at the state and local level. Since 1992, HOME produced more than one million units of affordable housing through the U.S.
“These Massachusetts organizations have set themselves apart on a national level, earning three out of 14 awards for their work building better communities and creating opportunities for people most in need,” said Barbara Fields, HUD New England Regional Administrator.
HUD’s HOME Program
The Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act created the HOME Program in 1992. HOME provides formula grants to States and localities that communities use-often in partnership with local nonprofit groups-to fund a wide range of activities that build, buy, and/or rehabilitate affordable housing for rent or homeownership or provide direct rental assistance to low-income people.
Each year, HUD allocates approximately $2 billion to more than 600 State and local participating jurisdictions to increase the stock of affordable housing and provide tenant-based rental assistance for low- and very low-income households. Since the program’s inception, the HOME Program has completed more than one million units of affordable housing and provided more than 240,000 families with critically needed rental assistance. Each dollar of HOME funds leverages nearly $4 in other public and private investment and has leveraged more than $78 billion over the life of the program.
Each award-winning project demonstrates how the flexibility provided by the HOME program is used by State and local governments to meet the specific needs of low-income families and underserved populations in their areas. These projects and programs serve as models for other jurisdictions to replicate throughout the country in four categories of innovation –producing producing sustainable housing, promoting long-term affordability, reaching underserved populations and building CHDO (non-profit) capacity.