HUD renews local homeless assistance program grants

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded $2.5 billion to renew support to thousands of homeless assistance programs nationwide, including more than $13 million in the Rochester area.

HUD’s Continuum of Care grants will provide critically needed support to nearly 6,600 programs on the front lines of serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness. In New York state, local homeless assistance programs were awarded nearly $246 million.

“HUD wants to ensure that thousands of local homeless assistance providers continue to receive federal funds needed to provide stable housing for people experiencing homelessness during these trying times,” said Acting HUD Secretary Matt Ammon. “Renewing these grants not only offers relief to our local partners but it allows Continuums of Care to continue their work to end homelessness and help keep our most vulnerable neighbors off the streets.”

In Monroe County, dozens of agencies’ grants were renewed, including Person Centered Housing Options Inc., Rochester Housing Authority, the Center for Youth Services Inc., Providence Housing Development Corp., Volunteers of America of Western New York Inc. and others. A number of agencies in other counties in the Finger Lakes Region also received funding.

“Today, HUD is renewing its support to critical homeless assistance programs throughout New York state by providing nearly $246 million for 521 projects assisting individuals experiencing homelessness as well as those at imminent risk of becoming homeless. This support is especially crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic when so many of our neighbors in New York state are in need of emergency shelter and permanent housing,” said HUD Deputy Regional Administrator for New York and New Jersey Stephen Murphy. “Today’s renewal funding for organizations such as Bailey House in New York City, Catholic Charities in Syracuse, Unity House in Troy, Person Centered Housing Options in Rochester and the Matt Urban Center in Buffalo provides an invaluable lifeline to the most vulnerable members of our communities.”

HUD’s Continuum of Care grant funding supports an array of interventions designed to assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness, particularly those living in places not meant for habitation, located in sheltering programs or at imminent risk of experiencing homelessness. HUD services more than 1 million people through emergency shelter, transitional and permanent housing programs each year.

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