I’ve previously discussed the prospect of ACORN (or, more specifically, one of its related foundations) receiving government funds under the stimulus bill recently signed by President Obama. This is the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009” available here (warning, it’s a 13 MB file).
ACORN has basically denied that it has received or plans to seek the $2 billion in “neigborhood stabilization” funds provided for in the stimulus bill. The bill, however, also contains $1 billion for “community development block grants” and $2 billion for the “provision of emergency assistance for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes” (page 103 of the PDF). ACORN seems to be involved in this program. ACORN is hardly the stranger to public funds some have suggested; a search for ACORN-related information on the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s website alone yields over 500 hits, including clear indications that ACORN Housing Corp. receives public funds. For example, a quick search shows over $500,000 for HUD’s “SHOP” program.