WISCONSINREPORT.COM (03/25/2009) - U.S. Senator Feingold announced today that the 96 Wisconsin housing authorities that received over $26 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), also known as the economic stimulus, can now begin spending the money to improve and modernize public housing facilities.

The money will help local housing authorities in communities across Wisconsin modernize public housing facilities and create demand for construction jobs.

Projects that are ready to begin will receive priority in order to start construction quickly. Energy efficiency efforts will also be given priority to lower the long term costs of public housing.

“This funding is designed to create jobs quickly, improve affordable housing opportunities for some of Wisconsin’s most vulnerable citizens, and infuse more money into local economies,” Feingold said.

“I’m pleased that so many Wisconsin communities will benefit from this funding to improve these homes for low-income families and reduce energy costs through energy efficiency upgrades.”

HUD’s Capital Fund Program provides annual funding to public housing authorities to develop, finance, or modernize the public housing in their communities.

This funding can also be used to make large-scale improvements such as building new or green roofs and for the replacement of plumbing and electrical systems to increase energy efficiency.

As the ARRA was being drafted, Feingold urged then President-elect Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to strengthen the nation’s public housing supply as part of any economic stimulus package.

In a December 23rd letter, Feingold advocated for funding the Capital Fund to assist public housing authorities with new construction projects and much-needed renovations.

Feingold has been a strong supporter of improving public housing and is the author of the Affordable Housing Expansion and Public Safety Act to help increase affordable housing opportunities for low income Americans.

More information on how Wisconsin communities will benefit is available at http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/ph/capfund/grants/arra/wi.cfm.

More information on how the ARRA will benefit Wisconsin is available at http://feingold.senate.gov/recovery.