How Federal Grants Help Oklahoma Provide More Affordable Housing

Grants from the federal government are helping Oklahoma build more affordable housing. 

This month the Biden Administration announced $49 million for the state. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development released more than $5 billion in funding for affordable housing nationwide. 

Holley Mangham is the communication manager of the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency. Her office is one of several agencies that receive money from this department through HUD grants. Her office oversees awarding the money to government departments and community organizations that have a mission to create affordable housing. 

“It’s all about increasing the amount of affordable housing,” Mangham said. “Just to make things more affordable in that rat race we call life." 

Oklahoma City’s Key to Home Program received more than $7 million in HUD funding this year. Key to Home – is a program that gets people like Kristy Smith off the streets and into safe and sustainable housing. Mangham said a new effort- the HOME ARP program through the American Rescue Plan – offers another population an additional $30 million. 

“[People] at high risk of homelessness. this could be someone who is fleeing domestic violence or someone who is being stalked and they need a safe place to live,” Mangham said. 

Mangham said numbers on a piece of paper today – could improve people's lives tomorrow. 

“Ease the burden on communities and individuals,” Mangham said. 

Last year state lawmakers passed the Oklahoma Housing Stability Program. That provides money for zero-interest loans to help communities grow.  

Mangham said they awarded their first round of funds for that program on Wednesday. For organizations interested in these grant opportunities- visit OHFA.org.