Rep. Pascrell Announces $24,000 HUD Grant To Paterson Housing Authority

PATERSON, NJ – Today, U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) announced that the U.S. Department for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded a $24,570 Housing Counseling Program Grant to the Paterson Housing Authority. The grant will be used to help Paterson residents become more financially literate, expand their home ownership opportunities, improve access to affordable housing, and preserve homeownership.

“The more people know about their rights as tenants or homebuyers, the better housing they can provide for themselves and their families,” said Rep. Pascrell, a former Paterson mayor who is New Jersey’s only member of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee. “This grant will help the Paterson Housing Authority educate the tenants and homeowners it serves. I am very proud of the services provided by the Paterson Housing Authority and I will continue to fight for every dollar of federal support our residents deserve.”

“The primary goals of the Homeownership Counseling program are to instill financial literacy, encourage budgeting and responsible financial behavior, provide information on the home buying process, and prepare buyers for the unique maintenance challenges associated with owning a home,” said Irma Gorham, Executive Director of the Paterson Housing Authority. “The ultimate goal is to increase the long-term sustainability of homeownership.”

Since entering office, Rep. Pascrell has worked closely with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to bring critical resources home and make sure New Jersey gets its fair share. Just weeks after helping win $1,500,000 in Housing Choice Vouchers for Paterson, Pascrell joined with Mayor Andre Sayegh to announce an additional $5.4 million in community development grants to the city. In September, Reps. Pascrell and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05) announced $12.6 million in HUD community grants to Bergen County. In 2014, Pascrell helped secure $815,000 in Community Development Block Grants to promote neighborhood revitalization, housing rehabilitation, and economic development activities. One year before that, Pascrell worked with Sen. Robert Menendez and Reps. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ-10) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06) to obtain $10.9 million to build community housing for AIDS patients, low-income families, and the homeless.

Rep. Pascrell worked closely with President Obama’s HUD in 2009 to secure a nearly $10,000,000 award to support public housing in Passaic County.  Rep. Pascrell has also secured numerous grants to house the homeless and homeless veterans while in Congress.

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