LANSING – State Representative John Espinoza (D-Croswell) Wednesday announced that the city of Port Huron has received $1.25 million in Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) grants from the Federal Housing and Economic Recovery Act to fight foreclosure and blight.
"This will be a great benefit to Port Huron and the areas that surround it," Espinoza said. "With foreclosure and blight becoming major issues during these difficult economic times, we need to invest in our neighborhoods. These funds will go a long way toward maintaining homeownership in our city."
The funding will provide down payment assistance to 14 homebuyers for the acquisition and rehabilitation of abandoned and foreclosed homes. The funding will also go toward construction of four housing units on abandoned or foreclosed property for resale or rental, as well as pay for the demolition of four blighted properties to create opportunities for future development.
"We have to do all we can to ensure our neighborhoods remain places people enjoy and feel safe living in," Espinoza said. "When too many homes and buildings are abandoned it leads to blight, which has a negative impact on the overall quality of life in our community and brings down property values. Neighborhoods are the cornerstone of communities and we must do all we can to protect them."