The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced an award of more than $2.1 million for the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District to expand subsidized housing vouchers.

The funds will go to support the Birmingham district’s expansion of housing choices for about 530 Housing Choice Vouchers through the Section 8 program for families with children to expand to opportunity neighborhoods with high-performing schools, job opportunities, low crime rates, parks and other amenities, HABD said in a statement today.

The $2,119,900 is one of seven HUD Housing Mobility-Related Services awards, with six other awards provided to public housing agencies in Dallas, Boston, Houston, Hartford, Seattle and Milwaukee totaling more than $24.5 million.

The Housing Choice Vouchers offer families an opportunity to choose their neighborhood. Those redeeming vouchers may face obstacles redeeming vouchers, including landlord unwillingness to rent to voucher holders or limited time to find a unit. The mobility-related services program assists families in increasing landlord participation.