HUD Archives: Birmingham Event Raises Awareness of Homeless Needs in Area

HUD Acting General Counsel and President of GNMA, Robert Couch and Assistant Secretary for Housing - FHA Commissioner, Brian Montgomery joined local and regional HUD officials in announcing homeless grant funding for the City of Birmingham. Homeless care providers and local officials attended the event hosted by the YWCA of Central Alabama, in downtown Birmingham, Alabama.

Robert Couch, HUD Acting General Counsel & President of Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae); Brian Montgomery, Assistant Secretary for Housing - - FHA Commissioner; and Cindy Yarbrough, Birmingham Field Office Director present ceremonial check to Salvation Army representative during announcement of homeless grant funding for Birmingham area.

Couch said in announcing the funding, "These programs offer the entire continuum of care for homeless persons and their families. The programs include street outreach, emergency shelter, transitional housing to programs that offer permanent supportive housing, and other programs. This funding will help homeless mothers with children, victims of domestic violence, homeless veterans and others in need."

HUD officials announced almost 7.3 million dollars in funding to support homeless programming in the greater Birmingham area, as part of more than 14.6 million dollars in homeless funds awarded to the State of Alabama.

Theresa Thorne, Chairman of the Board for Metropolitan Birmingham Services for the homeless personally recognized HUD's Robert Couch, who is a native of the Birmingham area, for this long-term commitment to the effort to eliminate homelessness, noting that in his pre-HUD days he and his family had donated the funding for the children's playroom that was used to host the funding announcements. She also asked those in the audience to be aware of what the funding meant to those living on the street.

Metropolitan Birmingham Services for the Homeless Board Chairman, Theresa Thorne expresses her appreciation to HUD officials for homeless funding announced at event.

[Photo 3: HUD Region IV Deputy Director, Pat Hoban-Moore]

HUD Region IV Deputy Director, Pat Hoban-Moore offers remarks during announcement of homeless funding in Birmingham, Alabama.

HUD Deputy Regional Director Patricia Hoban-Moore noted that earlier in her career she had been a part of a group of volunteers that came together to form Metropolitan Birmingham Services for the Homeless as a weapon in the fight against homelessness. The event was attended by all major local media outlets and received significant local media coverage.

Birmingham Event Raises Awareness of Homeless Needs in Area

Monday, February 26, 2007