Congresswoman Matsui Announces $68,000 Federal Grant for Sacramento Housing Agency

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 13, 2010

CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163

Today Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) announced an award of $68,000 in federal funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA). This award will allow SHRA to expand their staff and hire a program coordinator to assist the Family Self Sufficiency Program, further aid local families making the transition from welfare to independence, and provide additional Sacramentans with job retraining and employment opportunities.

In the midst of furloughs and state budget cuts, the federal funding for our region is increasingly needed, Matsui said. Just last week, I visited with local leaders who have brought job-training programs to Sacramento and saw the huge amount of interest from Sacramentans in gaining new skills. We need to continue to make sure that our workforce has the resources it needs to take advantage of new employment and economic opportunities. I am pleased to announce the $68,000 in federal funding for the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, which will allow the agency to expand their staff and extend their help to many more of our neighbors continuing to locate jobs and return to work.

We are thrilled to receive this award from HUD which we have been trying for a very long time to obtain, said La Shelle Dozier, Executive Director of the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency. This funding will provide a vital link to help equip families in our housing programs with the essential tools and resources they need to achieve their goal of self-sufficiency.

Congresswoman Matsui has been supportive of funding for housing initiatives, voting for the Fiscal Year 2010 Transportation and HUD Appropriations bill. In 2009, a total of over $14,000,000 were award to the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency competitively awarded homeless programs.