Secretary Martinez has awarded the largest amount of homeless assistance funds in the nation's history - more than $1.1 billion - to support thousands of local housing and service programs, in every state in the nation. The grants are part of a continuing effort by the Bush Administration to focus more resources on providing permanent housing and supportive services to homeless families and individuals, including those who are mentally ill, addicted or physically disabled.

"We must continue to seek effective ways to help our most vulnerable neighbors to find the housing and services they need to break their cycle of homelessness," the Secretary said in his December 18th announcement. "The funding we announced today is a critical step toward ending chronic homelessness while providing a helping hand to those individuals and families to avoid a life on the streets."

HUD's Continuum of Care and Emergency Shelter Grant programs will support more than 3,000 local programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. (View a brief state-by-state breakout) As a result, an estimated 740,000 persons will receive the housing and services they need to become self-sufficient. View a more detailed local summary of the funding announced today.

The two types of grants awarded are

• Continuum of Care grants, which provide permanent and transitional housing to homeless persons. In addition, these Continuum grants fund services like job training, health care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment and child care.
  
  
• Emergency Shelter Grants used to convert buildings into homeless shelters, assists in the operation of local shelters and funds related social service and prevention programs.

Ending chronic homelessness is a primary goal of HUD's assistance programs. Research indicates that approximately 10 percent of all homeless persons are chronically homeless. Studies also find that this population consumes over half of the resources designed to assist all homeless individuals and families. By shifting the federal emphasis toward meeting the needs of the most vulnerable homeless persons, more resources become available for those who experience homelessness as a temporary condition.

Learn more about chronic homelessness on HUD's website.

Learn more about HUD's commitment to end chronic homelessness.

Tie a string around your finger, ask someone at home to remind you, or leave yourself a voicemail on your home machine - but don't forget to bring something for a Neighbor in Need to HUD HQ's Holiday Party, tomorrow beginning at 9:30 AM.

HUD's Holiday Party promises to be a good chance to enjoy yourself with your friends and coworkers, but please Help a Neighbor in Need at the same time. Bring a new, unwrapped toy, fresh canned or dry foods, or a coat or other clean items - from scarves to gloves to personal hygiene products. TOMORROW IS YOUR LAST CHANCE! HUD Washington, DC area employees: see HUD@Work for more details.