Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Many of the nation's largest public housing authorities fear they will be left out when the government distributes hundreds of millions in economic stimulus dollars.

The money would go for new plumbing, roofing and other capital improvements.

The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities says housing authorities in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and Baltimore are examples of agencies that fail to meet the threshold that federal officials have established for getting some of that money.

Only housing authorities designated as "high performers" will be eligible during the first round of the competitive grants program.

The trade group says the new requirements for getting stimulus dollars go beyond what was required by Congress.

Those agencies will still get money for capital improvements because $3 billion will be spent through a formula that gives something to all the agencies.