Millions of dollars from the federal government have been allocated to housing authorities and Native American tribes in the Commonwealth to improve housing options for residents.
Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced the funding on Thursday.
The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority received more than $11 million in federal funding to support the building and renovation of its properties. The money will also go to economic development programs for its residents.
Petersburg and Hopewell’s housing agencies were given about $1.8 million combined as part of the effort.
It’s part of roughly $47 million distributed to dozens of Virginia’s housing authorities by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“It’s important for every Virginian to have the opportunity to secure stable housing and employment,” Warner and Kaine said in a joint statement. “We’re pleased that these federal funds will help ensure more Virginians have access to affordable homes and upward mobility.”
The senators announced that seven of Virginia’s federally recognized Native American tribes would also receive federal funding to expand and renovate housing on their reservations. HUD granted the tribes a total of nearly $1.2 million to preserve and build more affordable housing.
“This money will be able to be used for repairs, remodeling and other essential household needs of our tribe members,” said Jay Smith, a spokesperson for King Wiliam County’s Pamunkey Indian Tribe.
Smith said the funds could be used for maintenance of traditional and mobile homes on the reservation — including roof repairs, new insulation and adding ramps to increase accessibility for some residents.
The money is part of HUD’s Indian Housing Block Grant Program. Other recipients include the Upper Mattaponi, Rappahannock and Nansemond Tribes.