Santa Cruz Habitat for Humanity awarded HUD grant

Rep. Jimmy Panetta announced Tuesday that Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay, a regional nonprofit housing corporation in Santa Cruz, will receive a federal grant of $315,000 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

This Home Investment Partnerships Program award will be used for first-time homebuyer mortgage assistance and new construction in Los Esteros Court.

"Providing affordable housing is one of the greatest challenges we face on the central coast of California," Panetta said in a press release.

The program provides formula grants to states and localities that communities use — often in partnership with local nonprofit groups — to fund a wide range of activities including building, buying, and/or rehabilitating affordable housing for rent or homeownership or providing direct rental assistance to low-income residents.