Dear (Name of Organization):

On June 15, 2006, President Bush signed Public Law 109-234, Emergency
Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror,
and Hurricane Recovery, 2006. That law includes \$5.2 billion for the
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program "for necessary expenses
related to disaster relief, long-term recovery, and restoration of
infrastructure in the most impacted and distressed areas related to the
consequences of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, or Wilma in states for which
the President declared a major disaster." The law provides that no one
state shall receive more than \$4.2 billion.

On July 11, 2006, the Secretary announced that Louisiana will receive
\$4.2 billion of the \$5.2 billion. After taking into account the \$27
million in set-aside, the remaining \$973 million is available to
address any disaster relief, long-term recovery, and restoration of
infrastructure needs in the states of Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and
Texas. The exact allocations will be announced in August.

Public Law 109-234 requires the five states to give priority to
infrastructure development and rehabilitation, and the rehabilitation or
reconstruction of affordable rental housing stock, including public and
assisted housing. In addition, the conference report to the bill urges
the five states to work with HUD and the disabled community to ensure
that the challenges in finding accessible and affordable housing are
included in the states' disaster action plans. Furthermore, the five
states are to make available CDBG funds to meet these challenges.

The \$5.2 billion appropriation affords disability rights organizations
such as yours a great opportunity to leverage some of these funds for
the disability community's needs. Therefore, I encourage you to work
with your state and local governments to obtain a fair share of the CDBG
funds to assist in developing accessible and affordable housing for
low-income communities, particularly the disability community.

Among other things, CDBG funds may be used to support the jurisdictions'
obligations to affirmatively further fair housing (AFFH)[^1] by:

1.  Encouraging accessible design features to overcome barriers limiting
    the access of persons with disabilities to housing and other
    facilities;

2.  Providing fair housing training to educate the public about the Fair
    Housing Act;

3.  Partnering with fair housing organizations to conduct Analysis of
    Impediments for fair housing choice;

4.  Making grants to low-income families to assist them with security
    deposits, utility hookups, and other necessities to re-start a
    household;

5.  Marketing the availability of housing and other community activities
    and services that are available to minorities, families with
    children, and persons with disabilities; and/or

6.  Marketing the concept of using CDBG to provide funds for
    rehabilitation of existing housing to make it accessible for persons
    with disabilities.

For further information, please contact Pamela D. Walsh, Acting
Director, Office of Policy, Legislative Initiatives and Outreach. Ms.
Walsh can be reached via email at Pamela_D.\_Walsh@HUD.gov and via
telephone at 202-708-2288, extension 7017.

I look forward to working with you on this endeavor.

> Sincerely,
>
> Kim Kendrick

[^1]: To affirmatively further fair housing \[(24 CFR § § 91.225(a) (1),
    91.325(a)(1), and 91.425 (a)(1)\] means the jurisdiction must submit
    a certification that it will conduct an analysis of impediments to
    fair housing choice, take appropriate actions to overcome the
    impediments, and maintain records reflecting the analysis and
    actions.