Congressman Reyes Announces $8.25 Million Competitive Federal Grant For El Paso Housing Authority

Washington, DC – September 21, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will award a $8,248,000 competitive federal grant to the Housing Authority of the City of El Paso (HACEP).  The funding will be used to fund “green” public housing initiatives in El Paso that will reduce energy costs and consumption.  The funding for the competitive grant was made possible through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and is specifically designated to support the creation of energy efficient communities through substantial rehabilitation or new construction of public housing. 

“The development of green public housing is particularly important here in El Paso,” said Congressman Silvestre Reyes.  “Energy-efficient housing will not only reduce energy and water consumption but will also save on costs.  This is yet another significant investment in our community made possible by the American Recovery Act that will help our local economy to weather the current recession by creating and saving jobs.”

Over $300 million was awarded nationally by HUD, supporting 36 “green” housing initiatives.  The funding can be used for: development of green space; site improvements that provide surface water management techniques that capture, retain, infiltrate and/or harvest rainfall; water conservation through the use of water-conserving appliances, fixtures and efficient irrigation; energy efficiency that meets Energy Star standards for new construction; and use of renewable energy resources.  These transformational activities will substantially increase energy efficiency and environmental performance of public housing properties.  The funding will reduce energy costs, generate resident and housing authority energy savings, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions attributable to energy consumption.

To date, El Paso has received over $540,000,000 for various projects through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  To view the list of recovery project funded in El Paso, access the “El Paso Recovery Map” created by the Office of Congressman Silvestre Reyes by clicking here. 

Earlier this month, Congressman Silvestre Reyes joined residents and officials from the Housing Authority of the City of El Paso at a ceremony announcing $1.4 million in additional funding for HACEP for the 2009 fiscal year, and a $1.5 million budget increase for the 2010 fiscal year.

“The funding shortfall was the most serious problem to affect HACEP over the past 12 months,” said Chief Executive Officer Gerald Cichon at the September 4, 2009 ceremony. “Rather than implementing the last-resort option of sending termination notices to hundreds of low-income Section 8 families, HACEP spent $4 million from its own reserves to keep them in. We are most grateful to Congressman Silvestre Reyes for his tremendous support of our programs and for casting his vote in favor of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009.”