Homeless programs get injection of $1.47 billion

Thousands of local homeless programs will receive more than $1 billion in funds through next year, a boost over current funding. 

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan on Tuesday announced an injection of $1.47 billion to renew funding to more than 7,100 local homeless programs operating across the country, which "are a critical part of the Obama administration’s strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness."

“The grants we’re awarding will literally keep the doors of our shelters open and will help those on the front lines of ending homelessness do what they do best,” Donovan said. “It’s incredible that as we work to recover from the greatest economic decline since the Great Depression, the total number of homeless Americans is declining, in large part because of these funds.”  

The funding is $62 million more than last year; it is the most homeless assistance ever awarded by HUD.

The department announced last week that homelessness has declined 2.1 percent — 3,000 cities and counties reported 636,000 homeless persons — between January 2010 and January 2011. 

In addition, HUD’s estimate reveals a 12 percent reduction in homelessness among veterans.

The grants provide permanent and transitional housing to the homeless as well as services including job training, healthcare, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment and child care. The funding is awarded competitively to local programs such as street outreach and assessment programs.

HUD also manages a $1.5 billion Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP), a three-year program funded through the 2009 economic stimulus. Officials say more than 1 million people have been helped through the program.