Texas receives $3.3 million federal grant to fight, prevent homelessness
TDHCA’s grant assistance helps state leverage federal funds, land major grants for local homeless organizations
AUSTIN, TX – May 4, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced a $3.3 million Continuum of Care grant to Texas which will directly fund seven local organizations providing housing and supportive services to an estimated 246 homeless individuals or those at risk of homelessness, helping to transition them out of poverty and toward self-reliance. The grants were awarded through an application submitted on behalf of these local affiliates by the Texas Homeless Network (THN), a nonprofit membership organization funded in part through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). Four of the awards represent new three-year grants, while the three remaining represent one-year renewals to previous awards.
TDHCA annually funds THN to help the organization gather data and develop strategies addressing statewide issues that require solutions more comprehensive than local organizations can typically supply on their own. The Department’s contributions, which total $318,000 over the past two years, have helped THN coordinate the application process and leverage approximately $9.1 million in grants over that same period of time.
“We are extremely pleased by news of these awards and the knowledge that they will be used to benefit hundreds of the state’s most vulnerable residents: the homeless and those living on the edge of homelessness,” said Michael Gerber, TDHCA Executive Director. “The awards also represent a tremendous return for the state’s relatively small investment and are an excellent example of how TDHCA is leveraging limited state funds to make the most of its resources.”
Receiving funds through the Continuum of Care grant were the following organizations:
| Grant Recipient | Service Area | Award | Individuals Served | Activities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Healthcore | Longview and Gregg County | $123,480 (renewal) | 8 | Transitional living program for homeless adults diagnosed with a mental illness |
| Community Healthcore | Longview and Gregg County | $124,397 (renewal) | 16 | Services to women who are head of households who have come from family violence shelters, inpatient and residential substance abuse treatment programs, shelters, and the streets |
| City of Longview | Longview and Gregg County | $283,632 (renewal) | 39 | Tenant-based rental assistance to chronically homeless individuals residing in Longview |
| Salvation Army of Lubbock | Lubbock and Lubbock County | $845,113 (new) | 37 | Case management services and individualized action plans to facilitate the transition from homelessness to permanent housing |
| City of Texarkana | Texarkana and Bowie County | $907,635 (new) | 65 | Counseling, legal services, and life and financial management classes for victims of domestic violence and homeless |
| Odessa Links | Odessa and Ector County | $735,060 (new) | 62 | Transitional housing and supportive services to help move homeless families toward self-sufficiency |
| Family Promise of East Bell County | Temple and Bell County | $356,143 (new) | 19 | Transitional housing and supportive services for homeless families and veterans with dependent children exiting shelters |
HUD allocates Continuum of Care grants through an annual competitive application process, and awards are made to communities demonstrating a willingness and ability to collaborate to end homelessness. Components of the Continuum of Care system include: outreach, intake, and assessment to identify housing need; emergency shelter and safe, decent alternatives to living on the streets; transitional housing with supportive services; and permanent housing and permanent supportive housing.
In an unrelated award, TDHCA also recently announced a $65,000 grant to THN through the Department’s Community Services Block Grant Discretionary Fund. The award will help the organization identify current contributing factors leading to homelessness and how they can be countered with existing resources, as well as to provide training and technical assistance to local agencies to promote best practices and enhance program management.
Preventing homelessness is a critical mission of TDHCA. The Department over the past two years has administered more than $70 million to address the problem of homelessness in the state through the federal Emergency Solutions Grants Program, the state’s Homeless Housing and Services Program and the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program, the latter funded through the federal economic stimulus package.
Together, these programs fund local initiatives designed to provide emergency housing and services to homeless individuals or offer short-term assistance to prevent homelessness. TDHCA also provides administrative support to the Texas Interagency Council for the Homeless, which consists of representatives from all state agencies that serve persons experiencing homelessness.
About The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs is the state agency responsible for affordable housing, community and energy assistance programs, and colonia activities. The Department currently administers $3 billion through for-profit, nonprofit, and local government partnerships to deliver local housing and community-based opportunities and assistance to Texans in need.
Contact:
Gordon Anderson 512-475-4743
Jill McFarren 512-475-2844
