Broward County receives grant of more than $8 million to assist homeless population

Broward County receives grant of more than $8 million to assist homeless population

Grant funds 16 renewal projects, three new projects, including 67 new beds for eligible homeless

Michael R. Wright, MPA, Broward County

     BROWARD COUNTY, FL – In support of goals and objectives in the County’s “A Way Home” Plan to End Homelessness, the Broward County Homeless Initiative Partnership has been awarded a grant of more than eight million dollars by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the 2014 HUD Homeless Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Competition.

The HUD CoC Program award will fund 16 renewal and three new projects providing Supportive Services, Homeless Management Information System Support, CoC Planning, Transitional Housing, Rapid Rehousing, and Permanent Supportive Housing. The projects provide 675 permanent, 112 rapid rehousing, and 25 transitional beds (812 beds total) with related supportive services to Broward’s homeless population. Most importantly, these new funds will create 67 new permanent supportive housing beds for chronically homeless persons in partner-ship with Broward County Housing Authority and Broward Housing Solutions.

All the projects funded help fulfill goals set out in the “A Way Home” Plan to End Homelessness, approved by the Bro-ward County Board of County Commissioners in August 2013.

The 19 CoC Program projects funded via the 2014 HUD CoC Program award will serve homeless adult and youth clients, including: individuals, families, veterans; those with mental, emotional and physical disabilities; substance abuse disorders; mothers with children including pregnant women; and those who are “chronically” homeless and those who have co-occurring disorders.

The eight million dollars awarded to the Broward County Homeless Initiative Partnership and $2.2 million directly managed by community providers makes up the $10.2 million awarded through the Broward Homeless CoC.

For more information, visit HIP’s website, view the “A Way Home” Plan to End Homelessness or the Homelessness in Broward County 2014 Point-In-Time Count reports.