HUD chief visits

Dr. Ben Carson inspects Habitat for Humanity site in Pompano.

POMPANO BEACH — HUD Secretary Ben Carson hailed private efforts to provide housing in a visit Friday to Pompano Beach, while saying there will be housing dollars in President Donald Trump’s infrastructure plans to make up for proposed cuts to his department’s budget.

Carson, who was confirmed March 2 to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development, joined Gov. Rick Scott, numerous local dignitaries and auto magnate Rick Case and his wife Rita to celebrate Broward County’s largest Habitat for Humanity project ever. Construction at the 77-home community next to Blanche Ely High School is expected to start in Spring 2018.

It’s being called A Rick Case Habitat Community in honor of the businessman who has contributed $500,000 to the project, which Carson said exemplified the type of effort that’s needed across the country.

“If we’re willing to voluntarily extend a helping hand, we can create an environ-

MIKE STOCKER/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER From left, Rita Case, Bill Feinberg, Chairman of the Board for Habitat for Humanity Broward County, Rick Case, Jonathan Reckford, Habitat International CEO, and HUD Secretary Ben Carson talk at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church on Friday.