Jaime Herrera Beutler Applauds COVID-19 Funding for Southwest Washington Affordable Housing

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03) applauded an announcement by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that more than $648,000 will come to Southwest Washington to protect the public housing of vulnerable residents against COVID-19.

As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, Herrera Beutler helped secure this funding in the CARES Act that will go to the Southwest Washington Public Housing Authorities (PHA) to help them prepare and respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Those who face difficult economic circumstances and who may have no shelter options other than public housing are being especially impacted by COVID-19, and we need to be there to help," Herrera Beutler said. "I helped secure this funding in Congress to strengthen local housing authorities' ability to shelter these folks through the COVID crisis, and am glad to see it coming to Southwest Washington."

The CARES Act funds two HUD programs that will support PHAs. Funding for the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program will go to administrative fees, along with the purchase of cleaning supplies, transport of participating families for testing or health care in relation to coronavirus, and additional costs for supportive services related to coronavirus. Supplemental Public Housing Operating Funds will go to help housing authorities prepare, prevent, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic and protect those residents in public housing.

CARES Act Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Funds:

Longview Housing Authority: $190,198

Vancouver Housing Authority: $326,826

Kelso Housing Authority: $37,918

Columbia Gorge Housing Authority: $38,864

CARES Act Supplemental Public Housing Operating Funds:

Kelso Housing Authority: $41,819

Vancouver Housing Authority: $13,049

Source