Senator Murray Announces $20 Million in Hope VI Housing Support for Bremerton

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that the Bremerton Housing Authority will be receiving $20 million in funding from the Hope VI housing program to revitalize the Westpark public housing development. The Hope VI program, which is funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), tears down some of the nation’s most dilapidated public housing and replaces it with modern, mixed-income units. Senator Murray, who Chairs the Senate Subcommittee that oversees the HUD budget, worked this year to include $100 million in Hope VI funding nationwide after the Bush Administration proposed to eliminate all funding for the program.

“This is a great day for the residents of the Westpark neighborhood and all of Bremerton,” said Senator Murray. “For the many Bremerton families who have been priced out of the local housing market, this funding will help create a new neighborhood to call home. This funding will help replace outdated housing with a diverse, safe, and vibrant neighborhood that incorporates the best of Bremerton in its design. It will also help more Bremerton residents live, work, and raise their children in the same community. “

Senator Murray understands the overwhelming importance of Hope VI funding to Washington state, where numerous Hope VI projects are funded. That is why when the Bush Administration proposed to eliminate all funding for HOPE VI projects this year, Senator Murray fought back. In her role as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees all HUD funding, Senator Murray worked to include $100 million for HOPE VI projects nationwide. Of that $100 million, $50.5 million has been awarded to Washington state projects, including the $20 million announced today for Westpark. Other projects in Washington state announced today include the Greenbriar redevelopment in White Center ($20 million) and the Lake City Village and House redevelopment in Seattle ($10.5 million).

"The Hope VI program not only rebuilds housing, it rebuilds lives,” Murray said. “We have seen it all across the country, and we will soon see it in Bremerton. “ 

The Westpark project will be the Bremerton Housing Authority’s first HOPE VI Revitalization grant. The project consists of demolishing 571 units in the current Westpark housing development and replacing them with between 800-900 mixed and mixed housing types. Of this total, there will be 179 units of rehabilitated public housing/Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) rental units, 30 HOPE VI affordable homeownership units, 100 LIHTC rental units, 159 other affordable rental units and 487 market rate homeownership units. Community and Supportive Services (CSS) will also be provided to all impacted families. There will be a community facility built as a part of the first phase of development, which will then house CSS activities on-site.