Mayor Warren Meets with HUD Official in D.C.

met today with U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan as part of a joint session between the federal department and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

According to a press release issued earlier today, the meeting, which was held in Washington D.C., focused on the Community Development Block Grant Program, which provides funding primarily for housing projects.

Warren said in a phone interview earlier today the meeting was "very productive."

"(Donovan) had a chance to get input from the mayors around how important Community Development Block Grants are and how vital they are at protecting human services, infrastructure projects as well as affordable housing," Warren said.

Warren, who is the chairman of the conference's Community Development and Housing Committee, met with Donovan alongside several other mayors from across the country and the Conference's CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran.

Prior to today's meeting, Warren said he had a chance to speak with mayors across Massachusetts to gather their input on the importance of CDBG programs.

"They really reiterated how critical the program is to a city's vitality, job creation and affordable housing," Warren said.

In Newton, Warren explained that CDBG programs have been crucial for affordable housing projects as well as infrastructure needs for people with disabilities and the Newton's human services. 

The grant program, which started in 1974, has been one of the longest continuously run programs at HUD as well as one of the most successful, the press release said.