HUD AWARDS NEARLY $5.5 MILLION IN HOMELESS GRANTS TO SUPPORT LOCAL PROGRAMS IN RHODE ISLAND

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced the Obama Administration is awarding more than $5.4 million in grants to support 47 local homeless service programs throughout Rhode Island.
The funding is part of $1.6 billion that is being awarded nationwide. (See below for a complete
list of grants awarded in Rhode Island.)

"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 Rhode Island, $4,737,444 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 Rhode Island, $748,046 in Emergency Shelter grants are 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. For
information on how the local grantee will administer the funding, please contact the local Continuum of Care at
(401) 457-1286.

Fiscal Year 2008 - Continuum of Care Competition
Homeless Assistance Award Report with ESG - Rhode Island

SHP: Supportive Housing Program, designed to develop supportive housing and services that will allow homeless persons to live as independently as possible. Through SHP, homeless individuals will achieve residential stability, increase their skill levels and/or their incomes. These grants are designed to move people away from a life on the street toward self-sufficiency.

SHPR: Supportive Housing Program renewal grant.

S+C: Shelter Plus Care, is designed to provide housing and supportive services on a long-term basis for homeless individuals with disabilities, primarily those with serious mental illness, chronic problems with alcohol and drugs, and AIDS.

S+CR: Shelter Plus Care renewal grant.