Larson's Housing and Educational Priorities Approved By Congress
FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE: July23, 2009
CONTACT:EmilyBarocas/202-225-7295
LARSONHOUSING AND EDUCATIONAL PRIORITIES APPROVED BY CONGRESS
Washington, DC -- Today,the House of Representatives approved funding requested by Congressman John B.Larson (CT-01) for critical housing and social services projects in theHartford area at the Hartford Housing Authority, Mercy House and ShelterCorporation and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Hartford. The funding wouldallow for the renovation and revitalization of two local low-income housingfacilities as well as the development of educational programs and facilities indistressed neighborhoods. The projects come as part of a broader bill that willhelp enact President Obama's long term economic strategy to provide short termhelp to the neediest Americans and long term solutions to help improve oureconomy and give our youth the opportunity to succeed.
Congressman Larson said, "These vital projects willhelp our neighbors who have been hit hardest by the economic downturn now byproviding them with a place to live and in the long run by giving their kidsthe tools to succeed in the future."
·The Boys and Girls Club of Hartford willreceive $600,000 to establish a new presence in Hartford with a focus ondecreasing neighborhood violence and giving local children new personalizededucational opportunities. The funding would allow the Boys and GirlsClub to renovate space for a headquarters within the SAND Community Center andgive them support to expand their educational-services during after schoolhours.
·$500,000 in funding for the Hartford HousingAuthority will help provide housing for those at risk of losing theirs byattracting new tenants into the apartments at Nelton Court. The complex, builtin 1947 houses 90 families in units described as "non-repairable," requiringextensive and costly upgrades to make them livable. The less expensiveplan will demolish the entire complex and replace it with approximately 80units and a community center.
·The Mercy House and Shelter Corporationwill receive $500,000 to restore the 200 year-old landmark St. Elizabeth Houseto bring it up to code and make it usable for housing.
"These organizations provide vital servicesto our neighborhood and can help pave a pathway for a more robust localeconomy, a brighter future for our youth and a better sense of community on ourstreets," said Congressman Larson.
These projects were included in the Transportation,Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill that will make targetedinvestments to provide short term help in the form of housing and jobs to thosehurt most by the economic downturn and long term solutions like improvedinfrastructure to put our economy on sound footing for the future. Itinvests in the next generation of high speed passenger rail and new commuterand light rail systems to increase our use of public transportation and helpwean us off of our addiction to foreign oil. It invests in grant programsthat revitalize neighborhoods and spur economic development in vacantcommercial and industrial sites and improves our nation's aging highway systemto make transportation safer and more efficient.
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