LYNN — Aging homes in need of repair will get some fix-up help from $252,000 allocated to the city from state housing officials on Friday.
The money comes from a new Gateways Housing Rehabilitation Program (GHRP) fund intended to help Lynn and other cities including Worcester, Taunton, and Lawrence rehabilitate some of their older housing stock.
“Housing rehabilitation funds directly benefit entire neighborhoods, improve the physical and mental health of residents, and most importantly, can keep people in their homes,” stated Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Jennifer Maddox in a press release.
Nine cities, including Lynn, received $2.15 million Friday to rehabilitate 75 housing units and make them available to low and middle-income households.
According to the statement, the money will help communities leverage existing housing rehabilitation programs. Many cities use Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to fund local rehabilitation loan programs, and the GHRP will enable cities to augment those efforts and expand to new types of properties, depending on the city’s current program.
“Whether we are celebrating new assets like the Berkshire Innovation Center, or investing in the rehabilitation of aging housing units, our administration is committed to supporting the economic growth of this region and the success of its residents,” Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy stated in the release. “Every unit of housing preserved through today’s funding is a step toward solving the state-wide crisis, and our Housing Choice legislation is one more way we can give our local partners the tools they need to produce more housing.”
