Opinion
EDITORIAL: New HUD grant commendable step for housing
The city of Anderson is scheduled to receive a $250,000 grant to build three affordable, energy-efficient homes.
The grant — awarded through a competitive application that required the city to earn points — comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The grant is great news for the city, even if it’s solely for three new houses.
Formal notification was to be sent to city officials this week. Construction of the homes on the city’s southeastside and determination of the residents won’t be completed until 2009.
The city has previously received weed-and-seed grants as well as a 2003 grant for counseling clients about the purchase of homes. But this new grant is the first such housing award in at least 14 years.
We’re lucky to receive the money.
The funds are actually unused money from other cities. Perhaps they couldn’t find an organization to channel the funds to projects or there were delays in implementing the projects. Whatever the reason, HUD officials in Indianapolis contacted six cities across the country, including Anderson, to announce the availability of the money.
Anderson’s Community Development Department wisely gobbled it up.
Granted, there are barriers to affordable housing in Madison County. Potential homeowners may not have funds for a down payment or they may have a poor credit history.
Last year, the Anderson Housing Authority had 171 families on a waiting list for combined public housing or Section 8 federal assistance, according to a city report.
So three homes may not sound like a solution, but it is a solution for three families.
Now, we hope the opportunity for future grants doesn’t take another 14 years. We want to remind officials in Indianapolis that Anderson can use the money for more affordable housing.
And we need to urge city officials to continue to keep an eye out for every possible grant in assisting our city’s residents.
We Believe
The city moved quickly to receive a $250,000 housing award, but we hope we don’t have to wait 14 years for another grant.
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