Providing Crucial Care for our Neighbors: Doggett Urges Support for SAHA Air Conditioning Initiative
***Press Release***
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 3, 2019 | Contact: Kate Stotesbery 202-225-4865 |
Providing Crucial Care for our Neighbors: Doggett Urges Support for SAHA Air Conditioning Initiative
San Antonio, TX — Today, Congressman Doggett (D-SA) announced that he has sent a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), urging federal approval for the San Antonio Housing Authority's (SAHA) initiative to provide air conditioning to thousands of San Antonio's public housing residents in 22 developments. Per a San Antonio Express-News article, "almost 2,400 public housing apartments — about 40 percent of the units — aren't equipped with air conditioning" in our community. This fully-funded effort simply needs federal approval by HUD, so they can begin installations before the worst of the heat hits this summer.
"It is unacceptable that so many of our neighbors—even those who are elderly and disabled—are suffering in the dangerous Texas heat with no reprieve, in housing that is supposed to provide them real shelter," said Congressman Lloyd Doggett. "I commend the leadership of State Rep. Diego Bernal, SAHA, and their partners in this endeavor, the City of San Antonio and the Hartman Foundation, for working innovatively to address this critical need in our community. I urge the Department of Housing and Urban Development to swiftly approve this fully-funded initiative."
Texas State Representative Diego Bernal shared, "Relief and dignity is finally on the way for our families that need it the most. They have had to endure the Texas heat for years without any air conditioning, but not for long. I thank Congressman Doggett for his work and support. It takes all of us."
Congressman Doggett's April 25 letter to HUD, linked here, praises the partnership between Representative Diego Bernal, SAHA, Mayor Ron Nirenberg, the City of San Antonio, and philanthropist Gordon Hartman to secure $1.5 million in funding to provide public housing complexes with air conditioning. Of the approximately 2,400 apartments SAHA has assessed as lacking central heating or a window air conditioning unit, about a third of the units are in elderly and disabled communities, and two thirds are family communities. The project will prioritize units for seniors and the disabled, followed by other residents beginning this summer. The proposed project completion date is June 30, 2019.
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