More than $54M awarded to state for rural development

(Indianapolis, Indiana) The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded the state more than $54 million for housing, community and economic development activities, assistance for low and moderate-income persons and special needs populations.

The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority filed their 2018 Annual Action Plan for Housing and Community Development with HUD on May 15, 2018. The plan provided information on the housing and community development needs, priorities and one-year spending plan.

Priorities for this plan, as outlined in the 2015-2019 five-year Consolidated Plan, included the following:

• Expand and preserve affordable housing opportunities throughout the housing continuum;
• Reduce homelessness and increase housing stability for special needs populations;
• Promote livable communities and community revitalization through addressing unmet community development needs; and
• Promote activities that enhance local economic development efforts.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development accepted the 2018 Action Plan and awarded OCRA more than $30 million in funding for the Community Development Block Grants, which is an increase of $3 million from last year. The agency distributes CDBG funds to rural communities to assist units of local government with various community projects like improving infrastructure, downtown revitalization, public facilities improvements and economic development.

“We are pleased HUD accepted our 2018 Action Plan, which provides the additional funding to continue our Community Development Block Grant program,” said Jodi Golden, Executive Director of OCRA. “This funding helps communities achieve their goals of making their neighborhoods better places to live, work, play and grow.”

The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority was awarded more than $23 million to fund the following programs: the Home Investment Partnership Program, the National Housing Trust Fund, the Emergency Solutions Grant Program, and the Housing Opportunities for Persons With Aids Program.

“At IHCDA we are committed to meeting the housing needs of Hoosiers across our state,” said Jacob Sipe, Executive Director of IHCDA. “This funding allows us to continue supporting local communities in both developing and preserving affordable housing and making services and emergency housing available for individuals facing a housing crisis or homelessness.”

More information regarding the 2018 Action Plan can be found on www.in.gov/ocra/2369.htm or www.in.gov/ihcda/2489.htm.