RHODE ISLAND TO RECEIVE $1.2 MILLION IN NEW GRANTS TO HELP PREVENT, END HOMELESSNESS

PROVIDENCE - U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) joined by U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) New England Regional Administrator Barbara Fields and Rhode Island Housing Executive Director Richard Godfrey, today announced that Rhode Island will receive $1.2 million in grant funds to support two homeless programs in Rhode Island. Today's announcement marks new grants to local projects in support of ongoing efforts to end homelessness in the state. In January, HUD awarded an additional $4.8 million to renew funding to 44 existing Rhode Island programs.

"These new Continuum of Care grants will build on our continued efforts to end homelessness in the state by
providing homeless Rhode Islanders with the critical assistance and resources they need to live as independently as possible," said Senator Reed, a longtime champion and advocate for the homeless who authored the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2009.

"Today, we build on this Administration's goal to prevent and end homelessness in America," said Fields. "This HUD funding will go a long way in assisting homeless families and individuals in Rhode Island and provide resources to put them on the road of independence."

"This new timely assistance will provide funding for safe and healthy homes and critical services for Rhode Island's most vulnerable populations," said Richard Godfrey, Executive Director of Rhode Island Housing. "Continuum of Care grants are a key and vital ingredient to preventing homelessness and meeting the need in our state."

HUD's Continuum of Care grants fund a wide range of transitional and permanent housing programs as well as supportive services such as job training, case management, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment
and child care. Street outreach and assessment programs to transitional and permanent housing for homeless
persons and families are also funded through these grants.

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