Mucarsel-Powell Applauds Nearly $500K For Affordable Housing in FL-26

Statement

Today, U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26) applauded a total of $498,500 in grants to the NeighborWorks network serving Florida's 26th congressional district. This FY2020 grant funding will support efforts to develop and preserve affordable housing, revitalize and sustain neighborhoods, and create jobs.

"I'm delighted that the funding that I pushed for is going directly to help with the affordable housing crisis facing South Florida," said Mucarsel-Powell. "This funding will create opportunities for working families and help low-income Floridians in our community move up the economic ladder. In 2019 alone, in Florida, NeighborWorks helped create 1,079 new homeowners, helped over 4,600 Floridians find rental homes, and created over 1,100 jobs. This is one of the most pressing issues facing Miami-Dade and the Florida Keys, and I will make sure it remains a national priority. I will continue to be a leading advocate for increased funding for NeighborWorks and affordable housing programs as we negotiate the Fiscal Year 2021 budget."

"The needs are great in many communities across our nation. Congresswoman Mucarsel-Powell continues to provide bipartisan leadership and commitment to provide much needed funding to national and local organizations, like NeighborWorks America, Centro Campesino Farmworker Center, Inc., and Rural Neighborhoods, Inc. to address affordable housing and community development challenges. We look forward to leveraging future funding within the Network of Excellence and the Congresswoman's district," said Lou Tisler, Executive Director, National NeighborWorks Association.

"We are grateful to Congresswomen Debbie Mucarsel-Powell for leading this successful bipartisan effort," said Steven Kirk, President, Rural Neighborhoods. "This crucial funding will allow Rural Neighborhoods to continue working to ensure that rural, migrant and low-income communities have the resources needed to move up the economic ladder. The work we do relies on strong public-private partnerships made possible through investments like this."

"Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell provides a powerful voice in Washington for our community and ensures that critical issues such as affordable housing and job creation are at the forefront," said John Martinez, Executive Director of Centro Campesino. "The funding will support our ability to provide housing counseling to create prepared new homeowners, renovate and preserve affordable, and provide affordable housing."

This grant announcement is the result of a Mucarsel-Powell led letter to the Appropriations Committee advocating for increased funding for Neighborworks. Mucarsel-Powell garnered the support of over 100 bipartisan Members of Congress in this effort. This funding was appropriated by Congress and will now be distributed through the NeighborWorks network.

In his proposed FY2021 budget, President Trump recommends eliminating NeighborWorks.

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