HUD ANNOUNCES $34.3 MILLION IN GRANTS TO HOUSE AND SERVE THOUSANDS OF HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN WASHINGTON

SEATTLE - Thousands of local programs nationwide that house and serve homeless persons—from emergency
shelters and transitional housing projects to permanent supportive housing programs—will receive $1.33 billion in funding through grants announced today by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson.  Included
in the funding announced is $34,350,927 to support 172 local programs throughout Washington, which provide critically needed assistance to persons and families living without a home of their own.

"This federal funding is a critical component for the success of state and local government 10 year plans to end chronic homelessness," said HUD Regional Director, John W. Meyers. "Cities, counties, faith based and community nonprofit agencies throughout Washington depend on this funding to provide housing to some of our most vulnerable neighbors."

HUD's funding is provided in two ways:

• HUD's Continuum of Care programs 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.
  
  
• Emergency Shelter Grants convert buildings into homeless shelters, assist in the operation of local
  shelters and fund related social service and homeless prevention programs.

More than $31.6 million in Continuum of Care grants are awarded competitively to Washington programs to meet
the needs of their homeless clients. Continuum grants fund a wide variety of programs--from street outreach and assessment programs to transitional and permanent housing for homeless persons and families.

Another $2.6 million was awarded to Washington for Emergency Shelter Grants, which 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.

Combined, HUD's Continuum of Care and Emergency Shelter Grant programs will provide critically needed funding to nearly 5,000 local programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For a more detailed local summary of the funding announced for Washington, visit the Continuum of Care
competition Homeless Assistance Awards Report with ESG webpage

The Goal to End Chronic Homelessness

For nearly five years, HUD has increasingly emphasized the Bush Administration's goal of ending chronic
homelessness in its assistance programs. Research indicates that approximately 10 percent of all homeless persons experience long-term or chronic homelessness. These studies also find that this hardest-to-serve population utilizes over half of all emergency shelter resources designed to assist homeless individuals and families. By shifting the federal emphasis toward meeting the needs of the most vulnerable homeless persons, more resources become available for those who experience homelessness as a temporary condition. To learn more about chronic homelessness, visit the CPD's Chronic Homelessness webpage.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with HIV/AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development
as well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov.

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Editor's Note: For a more detailed local summary of the funding announced for Washington, visit the Continuum
of Care competition Homeless Assistance Awards Report with ESG webpage.