WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded $20,037,116 in grant funding for housing and community development initiatives throughout Maine, U.S. Sens. Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins, R-Maine, have announced in a press release.

The funds are distributed as follows:

. $19,600,000 to the Maine State Neighborhood Stabilization Program, provided by HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Program to help Maine redevelop and stabilize communities with declining house values. The program will allow the state to purchase abandoned or foreclosed homes and renovate or resell the property to bring stability to local housing markets.

. $125,000 to the Maine State Housing Authority as part of HUD’s Housing Counseling Program. The grant will provide support services to homebuyers, homeowners, low- to moderate-income renters and the homeless.

. $37,116 to Tedford Housing, funded through HUD’s Housing Counseling Program, to help Mainers acquire quality, affordable housing through counseling and guidance services.

. $275,000 to Pine Tree Legal Assistance Inc., a Fair Housing Initiatives Program award to help Maine increase compliance with the Fair Housing Act and expand availability of affordable housing to help fight housing discrimination.

“As national housing construction hit a 17-year low last week, it is critical that Americans receive relief in this troubled housing market,” Snowe and Collins said. “These grants will help stabilize communities facing slumping property values, support families seeking affordable housing, and help end housing discrimination.”