HUD AWARDS OVER $600,000 IN GRANTS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, announced today the awarding of $602,191 in grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to eight public housing authorities in the 8th District.

The Section 8 Voucher and Certificate Programs provide private sector homes for rent to low-income tenants. Federal funds make up the difference of what is paid by the tenants and the total cost of the assessed monthly rent.

One of the agencies receiving funds is the St. Francois County Housing Authority, which manages housing funds for the seven counties in the East Missouri Action Agency. The counties include: Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Perry, Iron, Madison, St. Francois and Perry counties.

Rental vouchers for 13 units, totaling $59,409, were awarded to the St. Francois County authority, with three of those units designated to be used for a homeless program. Nine of the units are for two-bedroom accommodations and three are for three-bedroom.

The authority is also allocated $68,690 in rental certificates to be used for 15 units, with two of those designated for a homeless program. Ten of the units are for two-bedroom accommodations and five are for three-bedroom.

Emerson said the Section 8 program "is on the right track when it comes to public housing. It is cost effective because it thrives on the competitiveness in the private sector rental industry, and at the same time utilizes federal dollars. It also provides homes in already established neighborhoods for low-income families, rather than setting them up in housing projects."

The congressman said he was especially pleased with the "fresh approach" in some of the grants to target money to begin homeless programs.

Also receiving housing assistance grants in this area were: Stoddard County Housing Authority, $37,797 in rental certificates for 15 units in that county; Oran Housing Authority, $35,926 in rental certificates for eight units in the city of Oran; Sikeston Housing Authority, $91,009 in rental certificates for 21 units in Sikeston, including five for a homeless program; and Mississippi County Housing Authority, $67,350 in rental vouchers for 18 units in that county.

Other grants in the 8th District were: $51,268 in rental certificates to the Ripley County Authority for 15 units in Butler, Carter, Reynolds, Ripley and Wayne counties; $42,285 in rental vouchers for 15 units in the city of West Plains; and $72,192 in rental certificates and $76,265 in rental vouchers for a total of 31 units for the Phelps County Authority to serve Phelps, Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, and Washington counties.