JACKSON AND MARTINEZ ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $63 MILLION TO SUPPORT HOMELESS PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT FLORIDA

WASHINGTON - Dozens of local homeless programs throughout Florida will receive more than $63 million in grants announced today by U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson and Senator Mel Martinez.
For a detailed local summary of the projects awarded funding, visit HUD's website.

Nationwide, $1.4 billion in HUD grants will support a record number of local programs, providing critically needed emergency shelter, transitional housing and permanent support more than 150,000 individuals and families.

"These grants will support thousands of local programs that are on the front lines of helping those who might otherwise be living on our streets," said Jackson. "Whether it's a single man living with a mental illness or a family struggling to give their children a roof over their heads, this funding is quite literally saving lives."

Martinez said, "These are welcome and much needed resources-dollars that will go to help Florida's most vulnerable population. As a former Secretary of HUD, I know how critical these assistance programs are towards accomplishing the President's goal of eliminating chronic homelessness. I thank Secretary Jackson for his leadership and pursuit of programs that deliver resources to working and established local projects."

HUD's funding is provided in two ways:

• HUD's Continuum of Care programs provide permanent and transitional housing to homeless persons. In
  addition, Continuum grants fund important services including job training, health care, mental health
  counseling, substance abuse treatment and child care. More than $1.2 billion in Continuum of Care grants
  are awarded competitively to local programs to meet the needs of their homeless clients. Continuum grants
  fund a wide variety of programs from street outreach and assessment programs to transitional and
  permanent housing for homeless persons and families. Half of all Continuum funding awarded today, nearly
  $618 million, will support new and existing programs that help to pay rent and provide permanent housing
  for disabled homeless individuals and their families (see attached summary of the funding awarded today).
  
  
• Emergency Shelter Grants provide funds for homeless shelters, assist in the operation of local shelters and
  fund related social service and homeless prevention programs. HUD is awarding $160 million in Emergency
  Shelter Grants that are allocated based on a formula to state and local governments to create, improve and operate emergency shelters for homeless persons. These funds may also support essential services including
  job training, health care, drug/alcohol treatment, childcare and homelessness prevention activities. By helping
  to support emergency shelter, transitional housing and needed support services, Emergency Shelter Grants
  are designed to move homeless persons away from a life on the street toward permanent housing.

Since 2001, HUD has awarded approximately $9 billion in funding to state and local communities to support the housing and service needs of homeless persons and families. Next Year, President Bush is proposing a record level
of funding to house and serve homeless persons and families. The FY 2008 Budget seeks more than $1.6 billion through HUD's Continuum of Care and Emergency Shelter Grant programs.

Jackson added, "The homeless must not become invisible or marginalized. Our response tells us much about our humanity as a people and a nation. When our fellow citizens literally need shelter from the storm, or a meal, or counseling, or help to regain their footing in life, we must be there to respond."

The Goal to End Chronic Homelessness

For six years, ending chronic homelessness has been one of President Bush's national goals. Research indicates that approximately 20 percent of all homeless persons experience long-term or chronic homelessness. These studies conclude that this hardest-to-serve population utilizes more than half of all emergency shelter resources designed
to assist 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 situational homelessness.

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HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet
and espanol.hud.gov.