Introduces Choice Neighborhoods Initiative to Provide Grants for Schools, Housing Rehabilitation

Provides $350 million to Modernize, Integrate Affordable Housing Nationwide

Menendez: "Connect the place where people live with good schools, businesses, and jobs."

Jersey City
- Families in affordable housing will gain new access to public transportation, schools and jobs, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) announced today. Menendez introduced his Choice Neighborhoods bill, a new initiative to revitalize and transform distressed neighborhoods.

As part of the new initiative, the Jersey City Housing Authority will receive $250,000 in federal funding for the planning of the redevelopment of Montgomery Gardens. This Jersey City distressed housing project is already located close to the PATH train station, to New York, and to job opportunities.

The City of Jersey City will assist in the planning process by keeping the neighborhood strengths, rehabilitating the flood-prone housing, and building two new charter schools. The goal will be to improve the affordable housing stock and increase resident access to services and high quality education.

MENENDEZ'S CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS BILL

• Award competitive grants to assist in the transformation, rehabilitation and preservation of public housing and privately owned HUD-assisted housing.

• Invites local partners to submit a transformation plan that addresses housing, supportive services, and other neighborhood needs such as education, recreation, and transit.

• Boosts resources for Choice Neighborhoods to $350 million nationwide from only $65 million.

Senator Menendez said, "Families in affordable housing are working for the same things we all are - to find or keep a good-paying job, to send their kids to a quality school, and to live in safe communities. The 'Choice Neighborhoods' initiative gives families a fighting chance in this economy. It just makes sense to connect people's homes with good schools, businesses, and jobs."

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