NAHMA HUD Update: HUD Provides Remaining $2.96 BILLION in CARES ACT Funding for Homeless Populations During COVID-19

June 10, 2020

Dear NAHMA Members,

 

Below, please find an announcement from HUD Secretary Ben Carson on HUD’s recent allocation of $2.96 billion in Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) funding to support homeless Americans and individuals at risk of losing their homes.  This funding is in addition to the 1$ billion of Emergency Solutions Grants provided in the CARES ACT in March.

 

HUD NEWS

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Ben Carson, Secretary

Office of Public Affairs, Washington, DC 20410

 

HUD No. 20-077                                                                                           FOR RELEASE

HUD Public Affairs                                                                                     Tuesday

202-708-0685                                                                                                 June 9, 2020

HUD.gov/Press

 

HUD PROVIDES REMAINING $2.96 BILLION IN CARES ACT FUNDING FOR HOMELESS POPULATIONS AMID CORONAVIRUS RECOVERY

$4 Billion total in Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) targeted toward communities with high homeless populations or individuals at risk of becoming homeless

 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson today announced the allocation of $2.96 billion in Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) funding to support homeless Americans and individuals at risk of becoming homeless because of hardships such as job loss, wage reduction, or illness due to COVID-19. This funding is in addition to $1 billion of ESG grants announced within a week of President Trump signing the CARES Act. View state and territory funding allocations here.

 

“Homelessness was a major issue in some cities across our Nation long before this pandemic occurred, and unfortunately the dire living conditions of our most vulnerable Americans left many without a home to isolate in or proper medical and healthcare resources to defend themselves against this invisible enemy,” said Secretary Carson. “As we continued to monitor the effects of COVID-19 in at risk communities, the Department and our partners worked quickly to respond to outbreaks and minimize the spread from hotspots to other locations. This increased funding to help provide for our homeless will make a difference now as we combat the coronavirus and inform long-term, innovative solutions for addressing homelessness in the future.”

 

Congress has provided $4 billion for HUD’s ESG program for local governments to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus among individuals and families who are homeless, receiving homeless assistance, or are at risk of becoming homeless. In total, HUD has allocated $3.96 billion in ESG funding to impacted communities in every U.S. State and territory, and the remainder $40 million is being utilized to provide technical assistance to build capacity of grantees in those communities receiving ESG funding.

 

The $2.96 billion in funding allocated today can be used to:

 

o   Make more emergency shelters available for homeless individuals and families.

o   Operate emergency shelters by providing food, rent, security, maintenance, repair, fuel, equipment, insurance, utilities, furnishings, and supplies necessary for their operation.

o   Provide Hotel/Motel Vouchers for homeless families and individuals.

o   Provide essential services to people experiencing homelessness including childcare, education services, employment assistance, outpatient health services, legal services, mental health services, substance abuse treatment services, and transportation.

o   Prevent individuals from becoming homeless and rapidly rehouse homeless individuals.

 

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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 online at www.hud.gov and www.espanol.hud.gov

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