HUD Grants Connecticut $23 Million for Homeless Projects
By Emily Beaver
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 -Two New Britain organizations will receive $1.4 million in grant money from the federal government this year to provide serves for the homeless.
Friendship Service Center of New Britain will receive more than $670, 000 and Community Mental Health Affiliates will receive more than $759,000 in grant money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) this year.
The department announced Tuesday that programs around the country would be granted $1.4 billion for homeless. The “unprecedented” amount of funding for homeless projects is a result of the Bush administration’s initiative to reduce chronic homelessness, a HUD spokesperson said.
“The president asked for a record amount of funding, that’s where I think it starts,” Brian Sullivan said.
Most of the HUD grant will go towards personal support services, such as job training or counseling, for the homeless population, Sullivan said. These services will help to reduce “the revolving door” population of those who are chronically homeless, he said.
“We are targeting those hardest to serve and hardest to house,” he said.
The department issues grants to organizations that have realistic strategies for ending chronic homelessness and providing affordable housing, Sullivan said.
HUD will also provide some Emergency Shelter grants for people who are temporarily homeless. New Britain will receive $163,000 in Emergency Shelter funding this year.
Connecticut will receive more than $23 million to fund homeless projects this year. Last year, the state received $20 million in grants, according to statistics released by HUD.
Ellen Perkins Simpson, executive director of the Friendship Service Center of New Britain, said the center will use its HUD funding to purchase and renovate property on Arch Street in New Britain. The property will be used for permanent supportive housing.
Friendship Service Center and the Mental Health Affiliates will discuss their plans for the HUD grants at a press conference today.
The St. Vincent DePaul Society of Bristol also received $348, 000 for homeless projects.
