The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is making available $2 billion to end homelessness. The funding is accessible through the Continuum of Care (Coc) Homeless Assistance Program that will fund community-based homeless assistance programs via a competitive selection process.
“We know these grants can make a huge difference in ending homelessness,” Dr. Ben Carson, secretary of the HUD, said in a public statement. The HUD urges applicants to employ Housing First, an approach that prioritizes re-housing families and individuals experiencing homelessness without delay.
Major Emphasis in Homelessness
“HUD continues to forge deep relationships with our local partners to invest in proven programs that are working to reduce the scale of homelessness in their communities,” according to Mr. Carson.
Per its public announcement, the HUD puts major emphasis in ending homelessness, creating a systematic response to this problem, and improving the utilization of resources toward that goal. It further encourages local communities to eradicate homelessness among the youth, veterans and families and use their data for the strategic use of their resources.
The CoC is created for that: a “community-wide commitment” that promotes that particular goal of the HUD. It supports local homeless assistance programs ranging from street outreach and assistance to providing transition and permanent housing to those experiencing homelessness, whether long-term or chronic.
Applications for $2-Bil. Funding Are Now Open
One of the CoC’s key functions is to provide funding to eligible local applicants as in the case of the $2 billion worth of grants to support thousands of programs. They may be private nonprofit organizations, local and state governments and their instrumentalities, provided that they have been selected by the CoC for their respective geographic area to apply for such grants.
Applicants are required to submit their requests for grants electronically in e-snaps at www.hud.gov/esnaps. The deadline to submit applications is September 28, 2017.
Eligible activities covered by the grants are new construction, rehabilitation, acquisition, rental assistance, leasing, and supportive services.
For more details, read this 2017 Notice of Funding Availability for the Coc Program.
Justin McHood is a managing partner at Suited Connector and has been recognized by national media outlets as a financial expert for more than a decade.
