06.01.18

HOEVEN ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $2.1 MILLION IN EMERGENCY DISASTER FUNDING FOR HOUSING IN NELSON COUNTY

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded $2,172,405 to the Nelson County Housing Authority (NCHA). The funds, part of HUD’s Capital Fund Emergency Grant program, will be used to remediate mold and repair housing properties and are in addition to a more than $900,000 grant HUD awarded NCHA last year.

“We worked with HUD to help expedite Nelson County Housing Authority’s initial application for emergency funds to address a widespread contamination of mold,” Hoeven said. “Today’s funds will help authorities complete remediation and repair efforts so that residents can safely move back into these properties.”  

The NCHA began receiving reports from residents in Lakota in 2015 of mold, and NCHA made repairs as needed. However, tenants living in the cities of Petersburg and Michigan also began reporting mold-related health concerns. While inspecting other units, the NCHA discovered that the problem was county-wide, with mold problems being found in 25 units in six communities.

The NCHA did not have sufficient resources to remediate the situation for all those living in and around the properties. Accordingly, Hoeven worked with HUD to expedite the county’s initial application. HUD subsequently classified the situation as an emergency so the NCHA could receive a special set aside of funds.

Today’s emergency funds will be used to treat additional mold contamination that was discovered after residents had moved out and authorities had removed contaminated flooring, sheetrock and other elements. HUD is classifying the mold remediation and repairs as emergency work because of the NCHA’s limited funding and the danger posed by the mold to elderly and disabled residents living at the sites.

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