THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Vice President
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For Immediate Release Contact:
Thursday, April 01, 1999 (202) 456-7035
VICE PRESIDENT GORE ANNOUNCES
GOVERNMENT WILL PROVIDE $115 MILLION FOR RURAL RENTAL HOUSING
Washington, DC -- Vice President Gore announced today that the federal
government will provide $115 million to help rural families throughout the
nation secure affordable multi-family rental housing.
"For more than 200 years, homeownership has been the cornerstone of
the American Dream," Vice President Gore said. "With what some are calling
the best economy in American history, we have it within our power to make
sure that dream reaches even more corners of America.
"And by directing a portion of these funds toward Empowerment Zones,
Enterprise Communities, colonias and Native American populations, we will
make more housing available to rural residents who have traditionally had a
difficult time obtaining decent, affordable accommodations."
The Department of Agriculture will provide the announced funds. Of the
$115 million total, $81 million will be used to develop new facilities,
while $34 million will go for rental assistance to individual families.
Elderly residents are targeted for 47% of the projects funded.
Multi-family housing money comes in addition to funding provided to
individual rural homeowners by the Agriculture Department.
"USDA will provide housing to over 2000 rural families this year
through its multi-family rental housing program," Glickman said. "With
these funds, we hope to continue our efforts to maintain the stability in
rural America by providing community services, business opportunities and
access to safe housing."
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