Agencies get HUD grants

Three Arkansas public housing agencies are getting $734,556 in federal grants to provide housing vouchers for 166 individuals with disabilities, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Wednesday.

Little Rock’s Metropolitan Housing Alliance is receiving the largest share of the grant money, $446,486 to fund 80 Mainstream Housing Choice Vouchers, accordng to a HUD news release.

The other agencies getting a share of the grant funds are the Fort Smith Housing Authority, $165,224 for 56 vouchers, and the Conway Housing Authority, $122,846 for 30 vouchers.

Nationally the federal housing agency awarded a total $131.3 million to 325 local housing authorities to help an additional 15,363 persons with disabilities, the news release said.

“At HUD we’re committed to ensuring people with disabilities have a decent, safe and affordable place to live,” HUD Secretary Ben Carson said in the release. “The funding announced today allows our local partners to continue helping residents with disabilities live independently.”

The program providing the funds helps non-elderly individuals with disabilities, particularly those who are moving out of institutional or other settings, at serious risk of institutionalization, currently experiencing homelessness, at risk of becoming homeless, or is currently a client of a supportive housing or rapid rehousing program.