HUD REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR TO VISIT CHARLESTON, HUNTINGTON AND SOUTHERN COMMUNITIES
Visit will focus on efforts to prevent and end homelessness

PHILADELPHIA - Today, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Regional Administrator Joe DeFelice (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hudopa/35507482683) will visit local leaders in West Virginia to discuss initiatives underway to address homelessness in Beckley, Charleston, Huntington, Logan and Welch. He will meet with homeless service providers and tour their programs.

DeFelice will start the day in Charleston with the Charleston Homeless Task Force to learn the state of homelessness in the city followed by a tour of the Covenant House's drop-in center and health clinic. He will then travel to the southern part of the state to meet with local homeless service providers in Logan followed by a discussion with the West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness. He will end the day touring homeless services in Welch and Beckley.

"In December, HUD announced that overall homelessness declined 5.6 percent in West Virginia," said DeFelice. "I'd like to see the efforts behind that decline while hearing firsthand the challenges facing communities in addressing homelessness and unmet needs."

He will wrap up his visit in the Huntington area, touring the Golden Girl Group Home for at-risk adolescent girls and meeting with its advancement director.

In January, HUD awarded $8.3 million to support 63 homeless housing and service programs in West Virginia. See a complete list of local homeless projects awarded funding.

DeFelice was appointed regional administrator of HUD's Mid-Atlantic region last May. Since assuming his position, he has been touring the region to see HUD's impact on communities, visiting elected officials and local partners who oversee HUD-assisted housing, homeless service programs and community development projects.

HUD's Mid-Atlantic (https://twitter.com/hudmidatlantic) region includes Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and West Virginia. The regional office is in Philadelphia. Follow Regional Administrator Joe DeFelice (https://twitter.com/joedefelicehud) on Twitter for updates on his visits and activities.

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and http://espanol.hud.gov.

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