Gainesville Housing Authority Receives $250,000 Grant for Safety and Security Capital Improvements 

Press release from Gainesville Housing Authority

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gainesville Housing Authority (GHA) has been awarded a $250,000 Capital Fund Emergency Safety and Security Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). GHA will use the funding to improve overall safety conditions for several of its developments with the purchase of new doors and carbon monoxide detectors.

“Our goal is to always provide our residents with a safe and secure place to live and grow. This grant funding will aid us in making improvements needed to increase security and cultivate a safe and welcoming community that our residents can thrive in,” said Pamela Davis, CEO of the Gainesville Housing Authority.

In the next 60 days, GHA will work with Oelrich Construction Inc. to source contractors to install 114 new front entry doors and security screen doors at Eastwood Meadows, Caroline Manor, and Forest Pines. More than 400 new carbon monoxide detectors will also be installed across all of GHA’s developments. 

“Some of our units are more than 50 years old with significant wear and tear. Investing in physical improvements can have a significant positive impact on the physical and mental health of our residents,” explained Davis. “That’s why sourcing funding for capital improvements is so critical, because it helps us deliver on our mission to preserve and develop quality affordable housing to improve our residents’ quality of life.”

The Gainesville Housing Authority is one of 61 public housing authorities receiving grants to make needed capital improvements at their public housing developments. Overall, HUD is committing nearly $10.4 million to help enhance the safety and security of public housing residents throughout the country. For a full list of awardees, click here. 

According to HUD, these funds also support the Biden-Harris administration’s Comprehensive Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gun Crime and Ensure Public Safety. With these set-aside funds, Congress may appropriate specific funding for safety and security, including measures necessary to address crime and drug-related activity. HUD’s PIH can further elect to include costs related to the purchase, repair, replacement, and installation of carbon monoxide detectors as eligible activities.