OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AWARDS $19.2 MILLION IN HOMELESS GRANTS THROUGHOUT VIRGINIA
Funding to support 131 existing housing and service programs

RICHMOND - The Obama Administration today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is renewing grant funding needed to keep 131 local homeless assistance programs throughout Virginia operating. The funding is part of nearly $1.4 billion that will help an unprecedented 6,400 existing programs nationwide to continue offering critically needed housing and services to homeless persons and families.

The grants announced today are being awarded through HUD's Continuum of Care programs. For the first time ever, HUD is quickly providing renewal grants to local programs to prevent any interruption in federal assistance and will announce funding to new projects in early 2010. For a local summary of the grants announced today, visit HUD's website.

"As we move into the coldest time of the year, it's critical that no program risk running out of money to keep their doors open," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "These grants will make certain that those programs on the front lines of helping the homeless have the resources they need to house and serve persons who might otherwise be forced to turn to the streets."

HUD's 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. Continuum of Care grants are awarded competitively to local programs to meet the needs of their homeless clients. These grants fund a wide variety of programs from street outreach and assessment programs to transitional and permanent housing for homeless persons and families.

HUD's homelessness grants are reducing long-term or chronic homelessness in America. Based on the Department's latest homeless assessment, chronic homelessness has declined since 2005. This decline is directly attributed to
HUD's homeless grants helping to create significantly more permanent housing for those who might otherwise be
living on the streets. However, data also indicates that family homelessness may be on the rise, particularly in suburban and rural areas.

Earlier this year, HUD allocated an additional $1.5 billion through its new Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing (HPRP) Program. Made possible through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, HPRP is intended to prevent persons from falling into homelessness or to rapidly re-house them if they do.

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HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to sustaining homeownership; 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 ad enforces the nation's
fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov.