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Davids Announces Federal Funding for Affordable Housing, Community Development in Kansas’ Third District

March 7, 2023

Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded $6,971,895 for affordable housing, community development, and homeless assistance efforts in Kansas' Third District. Past HUD funding from similar grants has been used to address projects focused on infrastructure, public facilities, community centers, housing rehabilitation, homeowner and rental assistance, and more.

In total, the state of Kansas will receive more than $41 million for housing assistance programs from these annual grants. Communities in the Third District of Kansas receiving funding include:

  • Johnson County: $2,552,545
  • Shawnee: $264,979
  • Overland Park: $721,214
  • Kansas City, Kansas: $3,433,157

"As our region continues to grow and develop, it is important we foster suitable living environments for all Kansans," said Davids. "The funding I announced today gives power to our local communities to make investments in affordable housing as they best see fit. I'm happy to be a federal partner in that mission."

"My administration has invested in building and rehabilitating affordable housing and creating good-paying jobs for Kansans from all walks of life," said Governor Laura Kelly. "These grants will accelerate those efforts, providing communities with the additional funding needed to expand our housing stock and address homelessness so that every Kansan has a place to call home."

"These federal funds are an important tool for local governments to maintain affordable housing units, help residents repair aging homes, and invest in new projects that improve communities," said Mike Kelly, chair of the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners. "When our residents have safe, attainable homes that meet their needs, other improvements in community health, economic well-being and financial security often follow."

"Our recent statewide housing needs assessment revealed a shortage of resources for low-income and unhoused Kansans," said Ryan Vincent, Executive Director of Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), the state's housing finance agency. "Our team looks forward to awarding these funds to support shelters and develop quality, affordable housing in the 3rd Congressional District and throughout the state."

Davids has previously supported efforts to improve access to affordable housing, including during the Covid-19 pandemic when housing instability increased nationwide. She voted for the American Rescue Plan, which provided relief for more than 82,000 renters and 11,000 housing and service providers in Kansas through the Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA). She also supported the bipartisanAffordable Housing Credit Improvement Act, legislation to increase the number of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) available to states, and sent a letter to HUD urging the department to reconsider certain rental assistance parameters that would harm Kansans who rely on these affordable housing programs.

Background:

The grants announced today are provided through the following HUD programs:

  • Community Development Block Grants (CDBG): provides annual grants to develop stronger, more resilient communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income people.
  • HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME): produces affordable rental and owner-occupied housing for low-income families. HOME funds a wide range of activities including building, buying, and/or rehabilitating affordable housing for rent or homeownership or providing direct rental assistance to low-income people.
  • Housing Opportunities for Persons With HIV/AIDS (HOPWA): provides stable and permanent housing assistance and supportive services to low-income people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Over 100,000 households receive HOPWA housing assistance and/or supportive services annually.
  • Solutions Grants (ESG): provides funds for homeless shelters, assists in the operation of local shelters, and funds related social service and homeless prevention programs. Recipients enable people to quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis and/or homelessness.

Federal funding for this grant was authorized by the Federal Appropriations Act of 2023, which Davids voted to support in 2022.

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