Charles City Housing receives $250,000 funding for safety and security

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City Housing Authority will receive a quarter of a million dollars from the federal government for safety and security items, it was announced Friday.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said the $250,000 for Charles City is included in $13.7 million to public housing authorities throughout the country to make needed capital improvements in public housing developments.

Charles City was the only city in Iowa to receive a grant in this allocation from HUD carry-over funds from fiscal year 2019 and fiscal year 2020.

The city department manages the Cedar Terrace South, Cedar Terrace North and Morningside Apartments.

“Keeping families who live in public housing safe in their homes is important to their health and everyday well-being,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “These grants go a long way to ensure that public housing residents are protected and have peace of mind as they go about their lives.”

The grant to the Charles City Housing Authority will be used to purchase surveillance cameras and lighting at housing authority properties in the community.

The funds are awarded through HUD’s Capital Fund Emergency Safety and Security Program, which supports public housing authorities as they address the safety of public housing residents, according to information from HUD.

These grants may be used to install, repair or replace capital equipment or systems that contribute to a safer living environment for residents, including security systems/surveillance cameras, fencing, lighting systems, emergency alarm systems, window bars, deadbolt locks, doors and carbon monoxide detectors.