Medford to Get $1.6 Million in Housing Grants

Medford will get what it expected in block grant funding next year.

The city planned to spend $1.59 million through the federal grants next year, and according to a Washington press release that's what the city received.

A total of 18 municipalities in Massachusetts will receive $63.4 million in grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, said the press release issued by Massachusetts federal legislators.

The funding is expected to support economic development projects, increase affordable housing opportunities, improve area homeless shelters, and expand support services for low-income individuals living with HIV/AIDS and their families, the press release said.

Medford will receive $1.589 million. City officials previously said the money would fund the following:

• $60,000 for a new handicap lift at Shepherd Brooks Estate
• $841,956 for physical improvements; including upgrades to sewer, sidewalk and drainage systems, lead removal, tree planting, traffic signalization, and road improvements
• $25,000 to enable the support of business expansion for low-to-moderate income persons
• $199,397 for public services, including combating social illnesses and substance abuse, after school child care programs, social and recreation activities for the elderly, English classes for non-english speaking residents, improving resources for people at risk of homelessness, and food pantry, meals and counseling services
• $317,808 for planning and administration

“With income disparity at risk of growing due to ill advised Tea Party-backed budget cuts, I wholeheartedly welcome this announcement of housing assistance for the Framingham and Medford communities,”  Rep. Ed Markey, a Democrat who represents Medford, said in a written statement. “This Community Development Block Grant funding will enhance our efforts to provide dignity, promote economic opportunity and protect the domestic security of some of the most vulnerable in Massachusetts.”

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