Massachusetts Awarded Over $64 Million in HUD Grants for COVID-19 Relief
Federal Funding Will Help Cities and Towns Across Commonwealth Respond to Pandemic
Washington, D.C. - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA), along with Representatives Richard E. Neal (D-MA-01), James P. McGovern (D-MA-02), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA-08), William Keating (D-MA-09), Joseph P. Kennedy III (D-MA-04), Katherine Clark (D-MA-05), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07) and Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded over $64 million in federal grants to support cities and towns across Massachusetts as they combat the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The CARES Act established $5 billion in supplemental Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to help prevent, prepare for and respond to the coronavirus pandemic. This round of funding, which was awarded through HUD's CDBG program, focuses toward communities with households facing higher risk of eviction including communities with high proportions of job loss and unemployment.
"This funding will go a long way to help Massachusetts communities meet the significant needs of their populations as they mitigate the impact of this crisis on our families -- but they're going to need a lot more. The Senate needs to act now to invest real money into stabilizing state and local governments." said Senator Warren.
"The coronavirus pandemic has left families across Massachusetts struggling to pay rent and keep up with their mortgage," said Senator Markey. "The CDBG funding will help assist and prevent these families from being evicted during these challenging times. I am proud that the Massachusetts delegation not only fought to receive this funding but continues to push hard every day to ensure those most vulnerable in our communities receive the resources and support they need."
"When I helped to write the CARES Act, I did so knowing that it would take an all-encompassing approach to recovery," said Congressman Richard E. Neal. "That is why I fought for the inclusion of community development block grants so that municipalities could best decide how the funding was to be used. These important funds allocated to Chicopee, Holyoke, Pittsfield, Springfield and Westfield will allow for the communities to focus on keeping at-risk individuals in their homes without fear of eviction."
"This additional $3.2 million in CARES Act funding for Ninth District will provide critical support for our communities," said Congressman Bill Keating. "From housing assistance, to childcare, to job training, to small business assistance, these CDBG grants will make a difference in the lives of many Bay Staters during this challenging time."
"In the absence of any leadership in the White House, our recovery from this pandemic will be driven by efforts grounded in our communities," said Congressman Kennedy. "With this critical funding, we can support our local leaders as they protect the health and economic dignity of their neighbors."
"Cities and towns across Massachusetts have been fighting on the front lines against this pandemic for months now, and many have been left with enormous budget shortfalls as a result," said Congresswoman Clark. "From Framingham to Malden, I am grateful that many of our communities will receive this additional federal funding to help them meet their local needs and priorities. This step must now be followed with more substantial federal assistance for financially overburdened state and local governments across the country. We can't afford to wait any longer."
"It's hard to overstate the importance of these grants on our communities," Congressman Moulton said. "They are propping up vital mom-and-pop businesses which, generation after generation, have defined the North Shore economy. But the grants cannot stop here. The Senate must work with us on relief."
"Housing is a human right and a critical determinant of public health," said Congresswoman Pressley. "As our communities face the dual public health and economic crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, this funding will help to affirm that right by providing cities and towns in the Massachusetts 7th and throughout the Commonwealth the critical resources they need to keep many families-including our most vulnerable neighbors-in their homes during these difficult times. I'll continue to fight for robust relief for workers and families, extend and strengthen the eviction moratorium, cancel rent and mortgage payments, and guarantee the right to legal representation for those facing eviction."
"COVID relief benefits expired weeks ago, but that hasn't stopped working families' rent and utility bills from piling up," Congresswoman Trahan said. "This funding will go a long way toward keeping those families who are most at-risk of eviction housed and safe, especially in Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, and Fitchburg, as we continue to respond to this unprecedented public health crisis."
The cities and towns receiving CDBG funding include:
Arlington - $320,485
Attleboro - $398,593
Barnstable - $513,935
Boston - $9,781,393
Brockton - $937,951
Brookline - $531,034
Cambridge - $1,256,118
Chicopee - $528,209
Fall River - $968,551
Fitchburg - $435,362
Framingham - $714,101
Gloucester - $291,230
Haverhill - $597,180
Holyoke - $486,324
Lawrence - $935,531
Leominster - $482,977
Lowell - $1,251,394
Lynn - $1,212,525
Malden - $780,411
Medford - $525,848
New Bedford - $951,553
Newton - $607,513
Northampton - $266,402
Peabody City - $523,178
Pittsfield - $475,103
Plymouth Town - $568,752
Quincy - $1,176,113
Revere City - $710,189
Salem - $537,651
Somerville - $878,051
Springfield - $1,749,839
Taunton - $524,809
Waltham - $622,149
Westfield - $333,451
Weymouth Town - $487,367
Worcester - $1,963,247
Yarmouth - $242,315
MA Nonentitlement - $28,583,700
More information about HUD's COVID-19 relief funding is available here.
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