www.chasc.org
Date: August
29, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lindsay
Weathersbee
Phone: 254-3886 ext. 225
Email: lweathersbee@chasc.org
Columbia Housing Authority Seeks
HOPE VI Revitalization Grant for Allen
Benedict Court
Columbia, S.C. – Columbia Housing Authority will apply for a $20
million HOPE VI Grant to revitalize Allen Benedict Court, a 244-unit public
housing community bordered by Oak, Read, Harden and Laurel Streets in downtown
Columbia. HOPE VI Grants are used to
revitalize obsolete public housing communities.
The new Celia Saxon and Rosewood Hills
mixed-income developments were funded by a combination of public, private and
HOPE VI Grant funds.
CHA
is developing a site plan for the new community and will meet with residents of
Allen Benedict Court on site in their community room at 6 p.m. tomorrow, August
30 to discuss the details of that plan.
The public is invited to attend two meetings at 6 p.m. on September 6
and 25 at the Cecil Tillis Center, 2111 Simpkins Lane, to offer their input
about the plan. For directions, visit
http://www.chasc.org/cola/map.htm.
On
June 29, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced it
would award $94.5 million in HOPE VI Grants to housing agencies across the
country. With an award limit of $20
million, only four or five grants are expected to be funded nationwide. The grant application is due November 7,
2007.
“While
we expect the application process will be highly competitive across the county,
we are confident CHA has a good chance to secure a HOPE VI Grant,” said Gilbert
Walker, CHA executive director. “One
thing is certain: we have no chance if we don’t apply.”
CHA manages nearly 1,900
conventional public housing units and administers more than 3,100 rental
assistance contracts throughout Richland County. CHA is the third oldest housing authority in
the nation and has continuously been recognized by HUD for its successful
housing and education programs.
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