Homeless Assistance Programs Get $216 Million in HUD Funding

In arntelephone press conference this afternoon U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan awarded more than $216 million to nearly 700 homeless programs that havernnever received HUD homelessness funding. Thernawards are expected to provide services ranging from emergency shelter torntransitional housing as well as supportive services for 21,000 personsrnnationwide.  The Secretary said that thernawards come in the midst of a remarkable period during which homelessness hasrnbeen ended for over 900,000 Americans.</p

HUD’s Continuum of Care grants fund transitional and permanent housingrnprograms as well as supportive services such as job training, case management,rnmental health counseling, substance abuse treatment and child care. Streetrnoutreach and assessment programs to transitional and permanent housing forrnhomeless persons and families are also funded through these grants.  The grants announced today are $26 millionrnmore than last year’s grants.  In JanuaryrnHUD awarded more than $1.4 billion in Continuum of Care grants to renewrnexisting funding to 7000 local homeless programs.  The two awards combined represent the mostrnhomelessness assistance ever awarded by HUD. </p

The programs supported by the grants include the Supportive HousingrnProgram (SHP) which offers housing and supportive services to allow homelessrnpersons to live as independently as possible; a Single Room Occupancy Programrnwhich provides rental assistance for homeless persons in one person housing unitsrnwith small kitchens and/or baths.  Arnthird program, Shelter Plus Care is a long-term housing and supportive servicesrnprogram for homeless persons with disabilities such as mental illness,rnsubstance dependency, AIDS and related diseases and their families as anrnalternative to shelters or the streets.</p

Donovan said that people may question the expenditure during a periodrnin which the President has stressed the necessity for setting priorities.  However, he said, when we combine homelessrnprograms with supportive services as these programs do, the number of policernreports, ambulance calls, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and otherrncostly services decline. </p

Though homelessness is largely an urban phenomenon, Donovan said HUD isrnreserving record amount of the funding to meet the unique challenges faced byrnhomeless individuals and families living in rural areas.  He noted that homelessness has a differentrnface in rural than in urban areas.  Therernare fewer shelters and other resources for the homeless so they tend to takernshelter in cars or double up in possibly substandard housing.  </p

“Today, we build on the Obama Administration’s goal to prevent andrnend homelessness in America,” said Donovan. “This funding will make arnsignificant impact in the lives of thousands of people and provide resources tornbring them towards the road of independence.”</p

HERE is a list of programs that will receive funding.

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