HUD REGIONAL DIRECTOR DELIVERS $7.8 MILLION TO HELP HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN METRO KANSAS CITY AREA
Housing and service programs in Johnson County will benefit from HUD funding

KANSAS CITY, KS - Housing and Urban Development Regional Director Macie Houston paid a special visit to Johnson County Housing Services today delivering good news for homeless individuals and families in Johnson County and throughout the metropolitan Kansas City area. HUD assistance totaling $7,879,001 was announced to 33 local
shelter and service programs throughout the metropolitan Kansas City area including four grants to programs in Johnson County, Kansas. The funding will provide critically needed emergency shelter, transitional housing and permanent support for individuals and families who are homeless in the metro area.

"The grants announced today support local programs that are on the front lines of helping those who might
otherwise be living on the streets," said Houston. "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 saves lives."

SAVE Inc., of Kansas City, Missouri, in partnership with Johnson County Housing Services, received two grants totaling $149,280, and will offer permanent housing through its Tenant-based Rental Assistance Program to
chronically homeless individuals living in Johnson County with HIV/AIDS. Recognizing that client choice is an
important element in being able to secure long-term housing, SAVE Inc. has implemented a voucher-based program
to meet the expressed needs of clients. The client will be able to choose their apartment with a landlord who is
willing to participate in the program. This type of long term housing enables homeless individuals to obtain critically needed health care and social services.

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 has been 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 allContinuum funding awarded for 2006, 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. For 2006, 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.

In addition to the Continuum grants awarded today, Kansas City, Kansas is receiving an Emergency Shelter Grant
in the amount of $107,161; Kansas City, Missouri is receiving $393,531.

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. The total funded in 2006 is $1.4 billion. 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.

Houston added, "When our fellow citizens need shelter from the storm, or a meal, or counseling, or help to regain
their footing in life, we must all 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.
To learn more about chronic homelessness, visit the HUD's Chronic Homelessness webpage.

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.

###

Highlights of HUD's Homeless Assistance

• An unprecedented number of local programs - more than 5,300 - will receive nearly $1.4 billion.
  
  
• 1,096 of the project awards being announced today target individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.
  Total funding to these projects is more than $287 million, a commitment that directly supports the national
  goal of ending chronic homelessness.
  
  
• More than $618 million is being awarded to projects that provide permanent housing solutions for homeless persons.
  
  
• More than 2,847 local projects that serve mothers and their children will receive $686 million.
  
  
• 560 programs that primarily serve victims of domestic violence will receive nearly $91 million.
  
  
• $30 million is being awarded to 145 projects that primarily target homeless veterans.
  
  
• 1,526 of the projects funded today are dedicated to providing housing and support services to severely
  mentally ill clients, totaling $388 million. These persons are at high risk of experiencing long-term or chronic homelessness.
  
  
• Nearly $329 million will support 1,366 local programs that primarily help homeless individuals with substance abuse problems.

Metro Kansas City Area 2006 Homeless Assistance Grants

Overland Park/Johnson County Continuum of Care
SAVE Inc./Johnson County Housing Services (2 grants)	$149,280
Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas - Catholic Charities	$59,048
TLC for Children and Families, Inc.	$97,274
Total	$305,602
Kansas City/Jackson County/Independence/Lee's Summit Continuum of Care
Housing Authority of Kansas City, MO	$491,280
SAVE Inc. (2 grants)	$490,156
The Salvation Army	$232,321
reStart, Inc. (3 grants - 2 with KCMO)	$472,420
Rose Brooks Center, Inc.	$203,610
Mental Health Assoc of the Heartland	$64,099
Benilde Hall	$100,380
Sheffield Place	$163,079
New House, Inc.	$32,935
Truman Medical Center, Inc.	$513,246
Swope Health Services (2 grants)	$299,731
Community Services League	$56,497
Kansas City Metropolitan Lutheran Ministry	$213,515
United Services Community Action Agency	$130,063
Mid America Assistance Coalition	$43,358
Community LINC (2 grants)	$235,947
Budget and Financial Management Assistance	$121,390
Missouri Department of Mental Health (5 grants)	$3,208,680
Total	$7,072,707
Emergency Shelter Grants
Kansas City, Kansas	$107,161
Kansas City, Missouri	$393,531
Total	$500,692
Grand Total	$7,879,001