HUD Awards Funding to Alabama Housing Authorities to Help Families Find Housing with Vouchers
Posted On: July 9, 2024
Alabama housing authorities are among 25 awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The agency awarded $1.5 million in Housing Mobility-Related Services Planning awards to Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) across 14 states. These funds are part of HUD’s initiative to help families using Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) find housing in better-resourced opportunity neighborhoods.
These grants will empower these housing authorities to develop and implement programs that support families in maximizing their housing and neighborhood choices. Please see the full list of awards below.
The Impact of Housing Mobility Programs
The key objective of these awards is to help families thrive in neighborhoods with more resources, better schools, improved health outcomes, and greater opportunities for wealth creation. Research shows that moving to low-poverty neighborhoods can significantly improve children’s academic performance and long-term success. Additionally, adults benefit from reductions in obesity and diabetes, lower hospitalization rates, and enhanced mental health.
HUD’s Community Choice Demonstration program underscores the importance of enabling families to live in areas with lower poverty levels to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. Acting HUD Secretary Adrianne Todman emphasized, “Families deserve to thrive in better-resourced communities where the lasting benefits span future generations.”
Addressing Barriers to Housing Choice Voucher Utilization
While the HCV program allows families to choose their neighborhoods, they often face barriers such as:
Inability to save enough for a security deposit
Limited time to find suitable housing
Landlord reluctance to rent to voucher holders
Lack of awareness of neighborhood amenities
The awarded funds will help PHAs in Alabama and other states address these challenges by bringing together a wide range of partners. This collaboration will expand housing options for families, allowing them to select homes in neighborhoods that best meet their needs.
Benefits for Alabama Families
The funding awarded to the Mobile Housing Authority, Housing Authority of the City of Montgomery, Housing Authority of Bessemer, and Housing Authority of the City of Prichard will directly benefit Alabama families holding HCVs. By improving access to opportunity neighborhoods, HUD believes these families will experience:
Better educational opportunities for children
Enhanced health outcomes
Increased chances of long-term success
Reduced intergenerational poverty
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing, Richard J. Monocchio, stated, “We see the tangible benefit of this collaboration when families can assess what is best for them, especially the needs of their children.”
By addressing the barriers that HCV holders face, these programs will help families find homes in neighborhoods that offer the resources and opportunities necessary for long-term success.
