HUD ANNOUNCES $50.9 MILLION IN RENTAL HOUSING VOUCHERS TO HELP FAMILIES WITH DISABILITIES

WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez announced today $50,983,616 million in housing assistance vouchers to 1,336 housing agencies and non-profit organizations. These rental assistance vouchers are given exclusively to households, who have family members with disabilities, to make leasing private housing affordable.

"When families have members who have special needs, finding suitable housing it is not easy," said Martinez. "These vouchers will give them the necessary financial assistance to find safe, affordable housing that meets their specific needs."

The Mainstream Program Vouchers enable recipients to rent housing units by paying generally no more than 30 percent of their income for rent with HUD paying the remainder.

Public housing agencies and non-profit organizations that administer HUD's Housing Choice Voucher program apply for Mainstream vouchers annually. Families who qualify for these specialized vouchers apply for them through local public housing agencies.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities, creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans, supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet.

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