Homeless in America

WASHINGTON - Thousands of local programs that house and serve the homeless are being awarded nearly $1.3 billion in grants announced today by Housing and Urban Development Acting Secretary Alphonso Jackson. Never before has any federal agency awarded so much financial assistance to help the homeless.

Today's announcement is also part of a larger federal strategy being embraced by state and local leaders to end long-term or chronic homelessness for persons who are mentally ill, addicted or physically disabled. To date, more than 60 states, cities and county governments are developing their own 10-year plans to end chronic homelessness. This is also the third consecutive year funding for homeless assistance has increased to record levels.

"Today's announcement is another example of the Bush Administration's commitment to help homeless individuals and families move beyond a life on the streets," said Jackson. "These grants renew our pledge to thousands of local programs who are on the front lines of helping house and serve our homeless neighbors."

HUD is awarding two types of grants (see attached list of grants by State):

• Continuum of Care grants provide permanent and transitional housing to homeless persons. In addition, these Continuum grants fund services like 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.
  
  HUD's Continuum of Care and Emergency Shelter Grant programs will provide critically needed funding to more than 3,700 local programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As a result, over 700,000 persons will receive the housing and services they need to become self-sufficient.

Most of the funding announced today, $1.114 billion in Continuum of Care grants, is awarded competitively to local programs to meet the needs of their homeless clients. Continuum grants fund outreach and assessment programs at the local level as well as provide transitional and permanent housing to homeless persons and families.

By contrast, $160 million in Emergency Shelter Grants are being awarded to more than 300 jurisdictions based on a formula of a community's need. Emergency Shelter Grants help state and local governments create, improve and operate emergency shelters for homeless people. In addition, these grants may also support essential services including job training, health care, drug/alcohol treatment, childcare and homelessness prevention activities.

Approximately $140 million of the Continuum grants awarded today will renew funding of existing programs through HUD's Shelter Plus Care program which helps to pay rent and provide permanent housing for disabled homeless individuals and their families. The Shelter Plus Care program requires that HUD-funded projects help their clients live independently and provide needed supportive services from funding sources other than HUD.

For nearly three 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 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.
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 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.

HIGHLIGHTS OF HUD's HOMELESS ASSISTANCE

• Largest total award of Federal funds for homeless assistance in history - more than $1.27 billion is being awarded to over 3,700 projects nationally. This is also the third consecutive year funding for homeless assistance has increased to record levels.
  
  
• Over 90 percent of all grants are being awarded to non-profit organizations that are dedicated to ending homelessness.
  
  
• Grants are being awarded in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam.
  
  
• A record $501.4 million is being awarded to projects that provide permanent housing for disabled homeless persons.
  
  
• Over 600 grants totaling $168 million are being awarded to faith-based organizations - a record commitment to faith-based grantees in the 16-year history of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
  
  
• Nearly $620 million is being awarded to over 2,000 projects that target homeless veterans among those they serve.
  
  
• 2,379 of the project awards being announced today are either targeting or exclusively serving individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. These projects will be actively working to implement the Administration's goal of ending chronic homelessness by 2012.