$23M Grant Will Help Newark Housing Authority Fix Up Homes

NEWARK, NJ — Roofs, elevators, boilers and front doors across Newark will be in for repairs due to a $23.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Last week, the HUD awarded the Newark Housing Authority (NHA) $23.8 million in federal grants under the Federal Capital Fund Program. The funds will be used to make major capital improvements such as building, repairing and renovating NHA properties, officials said.

The Newark Housing Authority oversees over 12,000 units throughout the City of Newark, making it the largest housing authority in the state of New Jersey. The agency was created under the Federal Housing Act of 1938 to address blighted conditions and a shortage in affordable housing.

The HUD funds will help the NHA “improve the quality of life” for its residents, Executive Director Victor Cirilo said.

According to NHA spokespeople, the authority plans to use the funding to repair roofs, elevators, boilers, steam pipes, masonry rehab and entry doors. The capital improvement plan is arrived from HUDs requirement to perform physical need assessments for each property for every five calendar years. The NHA also plans on adding additional public safety equipment and completing apartment turnovers to house more, in-need Newark residents.

“The capital investment comes in at the right time to allow us to address major improvements within our properties, while furthering our 2020 goals,” Cirilo said.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka also offered thanks for the funding influx.

“We are always grateful for these grants as it allows us to improve the well-being of our Newark residents who reside in our public housing communities,” Baraka said. “Not only does the funding address living conditions, it also structurally upgrades vacant apartments so that waitlisted families in need have new housing opportunities.”

NHA spokespeople stated:

“HUD’s Capital Fund Program is an annual grant that extends funding to approximately 3,000 public housing authorities in all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This year’s grant awarded more than $2.7 billion nationally to improve and preserve public housing properties. Housing authorities use this funding to complete large-scale improvements such as replacing roofs or making energy-efficient upgrades to replace old plumbing and electrical systems. The Newark Housing Authority was awarded the seventh highest amount under the grant.”

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