Indiana assigns state funds to assist West Calumet Housing residents
Contributed By:The 411 News
Aid comes from housing and health departments
Indpls. – The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) and the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) announced Thursday they are providing a total of $200,000 in financial assistance to the East Chicago Housing Authority (ECHA) and the East Chicago Health Department (ECHD) to help families currently living at the West Calumet Housing Complex.
On August 3, 2016, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Midwest Regional Office and Indianapolis Field office contacted IHCDA requesting assistance with the relocation of residents of the West Calumet Housing Complex. Due to the health concerns related to elevated lead and arsenic levels in the soil, HUD notified tenants of the complex they will have until November 30, 2016 to move out.
IHCDA's Board of Directors today approved during their monthly meeting the allocation of $100,000 to the ECHA to help these households with the financial burden of immediate relocation. The IHCDA funding is in addition to $100,000 the ISDH is providing to East Chicago’s housing authority to help fund a public health nurse and a public health educator to assist with lead testing and education efforts at the local level.
“We are committed to assisting Indiana’s most vulnerable populations find safe and affordable housing,” said Jacob Sipe, Executive Director of IHCDA. “In addition to this financial assistance, we are working closely with ECHA to ensure these individuals find housing in and around East Chicago.”
IHCDA is encouraging residents and local property owners to use the IndianaHousingNow.org website to search and post available rental units. IndianaHousingNow.org is a free housing locator service intended to assist people find housing that best fits their needs.
Story Posted:08/25/2016
|
