HUD's Worst Case Housing Report

Last week, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a new report, "Worst Case Housing Needs 2009." The report revealed that over 7 million very low-income renter households who do not receive government housing assistance had worst case needs in 2009 - an increase of 20 percent since the last count in 2007. Households with worst case needs are those who paid more than half their income for rent, lived in severely inadequate conditions, or both. The report cites three major causes for the increase, including: 1) shrinking incomes and unemployment among low-income households, 2) growth in the rental assistance gap, and 3) a surge in competition for affordable rental units. The report also notes that the "need for prioritizing assisted housing in national policy deliberations has never been greater."



Notice of Fund Availability for the FY11 Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Discretionary Funds

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (the Department) invites Community Action Agencies, private nonprofit organizations, units of local government, and Regional Councils to apply for Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) State Discretionary Funds for the fiscal year 2011 (FY11). Entities interested in applying must be headquartered within the State of Texas. The Notice of Fund Availability is found at:

http://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/community-services/index.htm

The Community Services Block Grant is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty in communities. Applicants can propose programs in the following categories:

1) Statewide initiatives addressing hunger, homelessness, and/or training and technical assistance for CSBG eligible entities; 2) Projects serving special populations, including migrant seasonal farmworkers and Native Americans; and, 3) Innovative or demonstration projects benefitting low-income clients. 

Applications are due on two different dates depending on the types of projects proposed.  Applications for statewide initiatives or applications for programs serving special population groups are due on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 by 5:00 p.m. CST.  For applications proposing innovative or demonstration projects, the receipt deadline is Tuesday, February 22, 2011 5:00 p.m. CST. Questions regarding the NOFA may be directed to J. Al Almaguer, Senior Planner within the Community Services Section, at

(512) 475-3908 or al.almaguer@tdhca.state.tx.us.