Lincoln, Pryor, Berry, Snyder Ross Announce $705K to Arkansas Housing Nonprofits
Washington, DC – April 30, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor along with U.S. Representatives Marion Berry (AR-01), Vic Snyder (AR-02) and Mike Ross (AR-04) today announced that three Arkansas nonprofit housing developers will receive a total of $705,000 from the Housing Assistance Council to help build 47 self-help, sweat equity homes. The groups will use the HAC funds to acquire and improve land, and then they will work with Arkansas families to help them build their own homes.
The families work together to complete their homes, and they have permanent mortgages from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s single-family home ownership loan program. The families receive home-buyer education and spend several hundred hours working on their own homes and their neighbors’ homes in a cooperative effort.
The homes will all be Energy-Star rated for energy efficient construction.
Northwest Regional Housing Authority will receive $90,000 to help build six homes in Boone, Carroll, Marion Newtown or Searcy Counties.
South Arkansas Community Development will receive $90,000 to help build six homes in Clark, Hot Spring, or Garland Counties.
Universal Housing Development Corporation will receive $525,000 to help build 35 homes in Conway, Johnson, Logan, Pope or Yell Counties.
“Working together, we can create stable, healthy communities, and that is just what these funds will enable us to do,” Lincoln said. “I am grateful for the good work of these Arkansas nonprofit housing developers who work hard to help families realize the dream of owning their own home.”
“Secure, affordable housing strengthens both families and communities,” Pryor said. “These funds will help Arkansans across the state achieve the American dream of homeownership while also providing a boost to local economies.”
“Working with families to build their own homes will bring pride and shelter to many Arkansans in need,” Berry said. “I am proud to see funds going to such a great cause.”
“Partnerships between federal and local dollars help Arkansas communities,” Snyder said. “I applaud the Universal Housing Development Corporation for working with Central Arkansas families to help them build their own homes.”
“During these tough economic times, too many Arkansans are struggling to find safe and affordable housing.” said Ross. “These federal investments provide working families the opportunity to partner with non-profit developers, get their hands dirty and work together to build their own home. These funds also provide financial planning resources that will put families on a path to a stable economic future.”
The funding is part of HAC’s Department of Housing and Urban Development-funded Self Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP), which supports land acquisition or infrastructure development by nonprofit groups that run self-help housing programs.
Contact:
Lincoln, Marni Goldberg, 202-224-4843
Pryor, Michael Teague, 501-324-6336
Berry, Will Jennings, 202-225-4076
Snyder, Betsy Barrett, 202-225-2506
Ross, Brad Howard, 202-225-0753
