HUD-Nashville Presents Ceremonial Checks to
Nashville Continuum of Care and Mayor Karl Dean

Funding Includes SHP Grant for New Nashville Youth Center

In Nashville, on Friday, January 11, 2008 Nashville Office Field Office Director, Bill Dirl, FPM staffers Marsha Webb and Terry Livingston, and CPD Representative, John Baldwin, presented two ceremonial checks to the Nashville Continuum of Care Partners for a total of $3,302,375 and a 2008 Emergency Shelter Grant check to Mayor Karl Dean in the amount of $219,948. The funds will support approximately 460 units of housing and make services available to more than 1,000 homeless individuals.

The presentations were made at a new Oasis Center building under construction. Oasis Center (http://www.oasiscenter.org/) is a youth center providing diversified services for homeless youth, and will provide unique "under-one-roof" services for young people needing temporary housing, job-training, social skills and real-life tutoring. It is one of the few agencies in Metro Nashville providing services for homeless youth, and now provides opportunity for an ever-growing homeless youth population. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness (http://www.naeh.org/section/policy/focusareas/youth), some 5 to 7.7 percent of youth experience homelessness.

Continuum of Care members applaud as CPD Representative John Baldwin (center) announces the awards to Mayor Dean and MDHA Executive Director Phil Ryan (right)

Continuum of Care members receive the ceremonial check with Mayor Dean assisting

Funding for Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency's (MDHA) Shelter Plus Care program was more than $1.3 million of the total award. Shelter Plus Care is a rental assistance program for homeless individuals that, in addition to basic housing, provides supportive services and case management administered by community partners. MDHA will be able to house 260 individuals, along with additional family members and caregivers, with thee funds.

All the homeless services Continuum of Care grant funds were renewals except for a $325,500 SHP award to the Campus for Human Development, a $309,000 SHP award to Oasis Center - where the event was held - and a new YWCA SHP grant in the amount of $347,541; for a total of $982,041. To view the total funding amounts, please visit the HUD press release. Many of the Continuum members provide shelter for those needing immediate housing, and are linked on HUD's public site.

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, MDHA Director Phil Ryan, and HUD Nashville Director Bill Dirl complimented the Continuum of Care members for their most important and diligent work to serve the homeless. "There is a great deal of local activity currently under way in providing shelter and services to homeless citizens," said Mayor Dean. "This funding will complement those efforts for 2008." An enthusiastic audience "seconded" the gratitude expressed by officials. Three television stations covered the event: Channels 4, 5 and 17.

Oasis Center President and CEO Hal Cato, Nashville Field Office Director Bill Dirl, Mayor Dean, and Executive Director-MDHA, Phil Ryan

Nashville Director Bill Dirl presents an ESG award to Nashville Mayor Karl Dean

A member of Representative Jim Cooper's Staff, Brenda Wynn, congratulated the Mayor and the MDHA (the city's housing agency) for receiving the awards, and provided a statement from Representative Cooper. "Homelessness destroys families and hurts our quality of life in Nashville, but we don't have to let it get the best of us. By partnering local and federal resources to provide permanent, affordable housing and wraparound support services, we can tackle the root causes of chronic homelessness. I'm pleased to be a part of this community-wide effort." Other dignitaries included MDHA Executive Director Phil Ryan and 11 Continuum of Care agency representatives.