$2.8 MILLION IN HUD GRANTS AWARDED TO FIGHT HOMELESSNESS

$2.8 MILLION IN HUD GRANTS AWARDED TO FIGHT HOMELESSNESS

Two non-profit organizations from Hawai’i County have been awarded a combined $2.8 million in federal grants by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to address unsheltered and rural homelessness.

The first-of-its-kind competitive funding provides for housing and supportive services in rural areas. The funding is designated to strengthen homeless outreach, increase the supply of permanent housing, and expand supportive services.

”The County appreciates the endeavor put forward by the awardees, Hope Services Hawaii and Hawaii Island Home for Recovery for completing the competitive federal grant application and securing the much needed funding to address the needs of our most vulnerable community members,” said Susan Kunz, Housing Administrator for the Office of Housing and Community Development.

“Guiding unsheltered homeless individuals off our streets in a dignified way and providing supportive services is key to keeping them permanently housed,” said Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth. “We support the efforts of these two organizations, as well as everyone else on the Big Island who is addressing this issue.”

“Homelessness is a crisis, and it is solvable,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “Housing with supportive services solves homelessness. That’s why for the first time the federal government is deploying targeted resources to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness in unsheltered settings or in rural areas. With these grants and vouchers, HUD is filling this gap and giving communities the resources and tools to improve housing and health outcomes for people on the streets, in encampments, under bridges, and in rural areas.”