of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced Monday that it will distribute $3.16 billion in homelessness assistance funds to communities across the country through the Continuum of Care program, which aims to provide housing assistance and support services to people experiencing homelessness. did.
HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge announced the award total during an appearance Monday in Savannah, Georgia. Chatham Savannah Interagency Council on Homelessnessan organization that will receive more than $4 million from the program.
“Now more than ever, we are doing everything we can to get people off the streets and into permanent housing with services,” Fudge said in a speech. “That’s why we’re making sure service providers on the front lines of this crisis have the resources they need.”
HUD has served or permanently housed 1.2 million people experiencing homelessness over the past three years, and these new awards build on that work. I am.
“The historic award we are announcing today expands our community’s ability to help more people gain housing safety and stability, giving them the support they need to reach their life goals. We will provide it,” Fudge said.
HUD’s Continuum of Care program is designed to “facilitate community-wide efforts toward the goal of ending homelessness,” with funds disbursed primarily to nonprofits, Native American tribes, and state and local governments. It is designed to be used.
According to the program, its aim is to “minimize the trauma and dislocation that comes with being homeless, while also supporting homeless individuals, families, people fleeing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and young people.” to return them to their homes as soon as possible.” Website.
HUD detailed the scope of the new awards, stating that these awards represent the “largest amount of continuing care program funding ever awarded to communities to address homelessness, with most communities experiencing rising rates of homelessness.” “This provides a significant expansion of resources at a time when we are currently in the process of becoming a resource.” According to the community, announcement.
Of the total, $136 million will be used for competitive and non-competitive Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) renewal and replacement grants, and “approximately $57 million will be used for domestic and dating violence victimization. “Used for new projects to support the housing and service needs of individuals”, sexual assault, and stalking. ”
When first announcing these grants, HUD stated that applicants should “first connect people experiencing homelessness with housing, rather than requiring them to first complete a treatment program or achieve sobriety.” We need to use proven solutions to address homelessness, including approaches that often provide support services.” It is a condition for accessing housing,” the announcement said.
Winners of these awards “demonstrated a community-wide commitment to ending homelessness by highlighting local partnerships with health organizations, mainstream housing agencies, and more.”
The biggest beneficiary will be California with $601.4 million. Other large beneficiaries of more than $100 million include New York ($303 million), Florida ($133 million), Illinois ($158 million), and Massachusetts ($124 million). ), Ohio ($153 million), Pennsylvania ($147 million), and Texas ($161). ($1 million) and Washington state ($110 million).