Funds approved for affordable housing in region

At its Dec. 9 meeting, the commission chose to fund 37 development proposals for affordable housing across the state, resulting in an estimated 2,080 housing units for Missouri citizens.

Approved developments in the southwest region include two in Branson, one in Joplin and another in Carthage.

Developments were selected from among 122 submitted proposals for 2006 funding.

Also at the meeting, the commission awarded grants totaling $6 million to organizations that provide housing services for low-income families

Of 153 applications requesting funding, the commission opted to disperse 90 grants to housing organizations:

• $3.1 million for homeless prevention:
• $1.4 million for construction and rehabilitation for homeless, transitional or special needs housing;
• $910,000 for home repair;
• $434,515 for staff/service coordinator financing; and
• $164,760 for project-based rental assistance.

The funds were allocated from the Missouri Housing Trust Fund, which is used to provide permanent housing solutions for the chronic homeless population and activities to keep families housed.

The commission also chose to provide $1.6 million in federal funding to not-for-profit home repair entities in nonmetro areas of the state.

More than $300,000 of that funding is earmarked for southwest Missouri counties. Barton, Jasper, McDonald and Newton counties will receive a total of $220,000; and Dallas, Polk, Barry, Dade, Lawrence, Stone and Taney counties will receive $88,000.

The maximum income for eligible participants in any Missouri county is usually

between $35,500 and $51,600. Low-income homeowners may receive cash assistance of up to $20,000 for repairs.