Liberal Housing Authority Receives Emergency HUD Grant

The Liberal Housing Authority announced Wednesday at their board meeting that they were awarded an emergency grant from the U.S Department Of Housing And Urban Development. The grant amount awarded was $1,189,140.00, is to be used by the LHA for the replacement of the central chiller and all associated piping systems for both the chiller and boiler at Parklane Towers and Parklane Suites. HUD classified this as an emergency because of the limited capital funding that is currently available to the LHA which results in an unpreventable emergency that endangers the lives and safety of the residents. According to LHA Director, Carol Beckwith, the mission of the LHA is to provide safe, affordable, and reliable housing to Liberal residents. The LHA has received an average of $120,000.00 in Capitol Fund grants annually since 2006 that have been appropriately used for modernization and capitol improvements. At one point last summer when the chiller system failed, the LHA had to expend funds to buy window A/C units to cool the residents rooms. After voting unanimously to accept the grant from HUD, Board President Tommy Williams commended LHA Director Carol Beckwith and staff member Lori Benton on a job well done and applauded their diligence and persistence in the completion and success in being awarded the grant. The project will now go to the bid process.