41 Indiana cities getting $22.5M to modernize public housing

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – More than 40 Indiana cities are sharing in $22.5 million in federal funding to modernize their public housing.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s grants for 41 Indiana communities will allow housing authorities to replace roofs, replace old plumbing and electrical systems and make other improvements to aging housing.

An independent study HUD released in 2011 found the nation’s 1.1 million public housing units face an estimated $25.6 billion in large-scale repairs.

The city of Gary’s housing authority is getting the largest of Indiana’s grants, more than $3.5 million, following by the Indianapolis Housing Agency, which will receive $2.6 million.

Five other cities will receive more than $1 million each for housing upgrades. The northeastern Indiana community of Fremont is getting the smallest sum, about $39,000.