NH Delegation Announces $14.3M in Grants for Urban Community Development in New Hampshire

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Congresswomen Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) and Annie Kuster (NH-02) announced $14,333,057 in grants for urban community development and affordable housing in New Hampshire from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These grants include an $8,849,833 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), a $3,879,488 HOME Grant, an $870,215 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and a $733,521 Housing Opportunities for Persons with Aids (HOPWA) Grant. These grants are an increase of nearly $1.7 million from the previous year. The grants will support efforts to expand affordable housing throughout New Hampshire, particularly for people experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness, and expand economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate income individuals. 

“Granite Staters across our state desperately need a roof over their head and a place to call home, yet New Hampshire has an affordable housing shortage leaving many homeless,” said Shaheen, who has advocated for this funding as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “These grants will support cities across New Hampshire in their efforts to combat homelessness, invest in affordable housing and expand economic opportunities, particularly for our most vulnerable residents. I am pleased to see the substantial increase in funding from last year and I will continue to advocate for resources and assistance to empower our urban areas and families.”

“The lack of affordable housing options is holding back economic opportunity for people across our state,” said Hassan. “I am pleased to announce these federal grants that will help ensure that more Granite Staters who are homeless or at risk of homelessness have access to stable and affordable housing that they need to contribute to our economy and thrive.”

"These critical grant programs help local governments and nonprofit organizations across New Hampshire provide essential services for seniors, at-risk youth, neglected or abused children, the homeless, and other vulnerable populations," said Shea-Porter. "From addressing New Hampshire's affordable housing shortage, to helping people access health care, the recipients of these formula grants will improve the health and well-being of many Granite Staters." 

“These grants are an important opportunity to continue and expand efforts to bolster economic opportunity in communities throughout our state,” said Kuster. “A persistent challenge in many parts of New Hampshire is access to affordable housing and if we can increase the amount of quality affordable housing stock, it will allow more families and individuals to get ahead and succeed. This is a win-win for hardworking families and our communities.”

HUD’s Office of Community Planning and Development allocates federal funds through CDBG Grants, ESG Grants, HOME, HOPWA Grants and Housing Trust Fund (HTF) programs. These programs will support local efforts to develop urban communities, provide decent housing, expand economic opportunities, address homelessness, fund housing programs, provide housing assistance for projects benefitting low-income persons medically diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and their families, and increase and preserve the supply of decent, safe, and sanitary affordable housing for extremely low- and very low-income households, including homeless families.

###