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Feds’ help sought for housing
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Posted on Jul 16 2005
Citing that nearly 80 percent of CNMI residents need housing assistance, the Legislature passed a joint resolution authorizing the central government to apply for federal housing grants, which would give the CNMI $5 million over five years.
“This is a big amount [$5 million] which the CNMI stands to benefit for five years,” said Senate Committee on Fiscal Affairs chairman Joseph Mendiola.
House Joint Resolution 14-38, introduced by House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial, authorizes the governor to submit action plans to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the following grants: Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnership Grant, and the Emergency Shelter Grant.
The resolution said that Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 2004, Public Law 93-388, extends the CBDG grant assistance to the CNMI, while the HOME Partnership or Title II of the Cranston-Gonzales National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, which aims to benefit the low and moderate income households, also covers the Commonwealth.
Further, the HCDA Act of 1992 provides assistance to homeless individuals under the Emergency Shelter program.
“Virtually every community in the CNMI is in need of such assistance, thus demonstrating the Commonwealth’s dire need for CBDG assistance. [This] is supported by statistics which show that more than four-fifths of Commonwealth residents are persons of low- and moderate-income under HUD standards,” said the resolution.
HUD, it cited, has allocated $1.9 million for fiscal year 2005 for community development, HOME, and emergency shelter activities.
It said that the CNMI would use $1.2 million under CBDG; $641,590 under the HOME Grant; and $56,450 under Emergency Shelter program.
Mendiola said these programs are currently being implemented by the Northern Marianas Housing Corp. but the grants have to be re-applied for another cycle of five years.
