HUD AWARDS NEARLY $10.4 MILLION IN HOMELESS GRANTS TO SUPPORT LOCAL PROGRAMS IN MAINE

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced the Obama Administration is awarding more than $10.3 million in grants to support 46 local homeless service programs throughout the state of Maine. The funding is part of $1.6 billion that is being awarded nationwide.

"With the foreclosure and unemployment crisis looming, millions of families - both homeowners and renters - are in danger of losing their homes so we must focus substantial resources to help those families find stable housing," said Donovan. "The grants being awarded today, along with the recovery plan's additional $1.5 billion, will offer a critical lifeline to those persons and families who, after a foreclosure or job loss, might otherwise be faced with
homelessness. Today we are announcing an unprecedented commitment to fund programs that have a proven track record of providing real housing solutions for our most vulnerable neighbors."

HUD's homeless funding is provided in two ways, through Continuum of Care grants, and through Emergency Shelter Grants.

Continuum of Care Grants 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. The grants are awarded competitively to help local programs meet the needs of their homeless clients. The funding is used for a wide variety of programs, from street outreach and assessment programs to transitional and permanent housing for homeless persons and families. In Maine, $9,533,111 in Continuum of Care funding is being awarded.

Emergency Shelter Grants provide funds for the operation of local shelters and related social service and homeless prevention programs. Emergency Shelter Grants 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 Maine, $863,736 in ESG funding is being awarded.

This year, HUD launched a new electronic grant submission process called e-snaps. This new electronic system
allows applicants to store their submissions as they work on them and significantly reduces the time it takes HUD
staff to review these applications. It also saves considerable effort by avoiding burdensome and time-consuming
data entry. In the end, e-snaps will streamline and accelerate the process of awarding HUD grants to local
homeless programs across the country.

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NOTE: For information on HUD's homeless programs, please contact Kristine Foye at (617) 994-8218 or via email. For information on how the local grantee will administer the funding, please contact the local Continuum of Care:

• State of Maine Continuum of Care: (207) 626-4604
• Bangor/Penobscot County Continuum of Care: (207) 992-4531
• Portland Continuum of Care: (206) 775-7915, ext. 224