HUD provides $2.8 million for Joliet housing

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Tuesday announced $2.8 million in funding for capital projects for the Housing Authority of Joliet.

The local Housing Authority of Joliet funding is part of $2.7 billion in capital funds that HUD is providing housing authorities across the country.

The money will be used to meet the "growing demand for affordable rental housing," HUD Midwest Regional Administrator Joseph Galvan said when announcing the local money at the Housing Authority of Joliet offices.

"These are funds that come down, and it's up to housing authorities to say how they're going to use the funds," Galvan.

Housing Authority of Joliet Chief Executive Officer Michael Simelton said the authority has not determined how it will use the money.

One project under consideration is possible rehabilitation of Adlai Stevenson Gardens on Stryker Avenue, he said.

Other projects, too, are under consideration, he said.

Simelton did not identify specific buildings but said the Housing Authority of Joliet is reviewing the possibility of other demolition and replacement projects such as the one that led to the creation of the Water's Edge development on Des Plaines Street after Des Plaines Garden Homes was torn down.

Simelton said this is the first year that the Housing Authority of Joliet has received funding from the Rental Assistance Demonstration program, which is part of HUD's Capital Fund Program.

Funding from the program is awarded annually.

The HUD Capital Fund Program provides funding for about 2,900 public housing authorities to build, repair, renovate or modernize public housing, according to a news release issued about the program.

"Housing authorities use the funding to complete large-scale improvements such as replacing roofs or making energy-efficient upgrades to replace old plumbing and electrical systems," the release said.

Simelton said HAJ also could use the money to pay for pre-development costs, including architect and engineering fees on large-scale projects.