U.S. Rep Kathy Castor (FL14) today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $9,881,961 million from the recently passed CARES Act to the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County to bolster local relief efforts as our community responds to the coronavirus. The funding was authorized by recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and funding awarded is divided between Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA).

“Tampa and Hillsborough County are on the frontlines of combating the coronavirus,” said Castor. “It is vital that Congress speed significant resources directly to Tampa and Hillsborough County to take care of our neighbors. These grants are just a start, and will support nonprofit partners, safety, housing, and homelessness prevention. We are all in this together, and I’m proud to work to speed aid to my hometown and its residents during the COVID-19 public health emergency.”

Allocation of Funding for Florida’s 14^th Congressional District:

Community Block Grants: Community development activities build stronger and more resilient communities. To support community development, activities are identified through an ongoing process. Activities may address needs such as infrastructure, economic development projects, public facilities installation, community centers, housing rehabilitation, homeowner assistance, and more. Federal support encourages systematic and sustained action by state and local governments.

Emergency Shelter Grants: The ESG program provides funding to improve the number and quality of emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families, operate these shelters, provide essential social services to shelter residents, and prevent families and individuals from becoming homeless.

Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS: HOPWA is the only federal program dedicated to the housing needs of people living with HIV/AIDS. Under the HOPWA Program, HUD makes grants to local communities, States, and nonprofit organizations for projects that benefit low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families.