Randolph, Vt. – January 16, 2008 – Governor Jim Douglas and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Regional Director Taylor Caswell were at the Clara Martin Center in Randolph today to announce over $2.5 million in funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support homelessness projects around the state.
This funding, part of $1.5 billion awarded nationwide, supports 16 homeless programs across the state and 5 programs in Chittenden County.
“This funding represents an excellent opportunity for Vermonters, and it will be used to help ensure that all residents of our state have access to decent, safe, and affordable housing, with necessary support services for the homeless,” said the Governor. “This significant level of funding for the local Continuums of Care and shelters will continue to support the efforts of my Interagency Council to End Homelessness and other housing efforts that the Agency of Human Services is undertaking to address this serious issue.”
Local Continuums of Care Homeless Assistance Programs are supportive housing programs that strive to meet unique housing needs in the communities they serve. For example, the Safe Haven Shelter, collaboration between the Clara Martin Center, Vermont Psychiatric Survivors, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness, provides transitional housing for homeless individuals diagnosed with mental illness in Orange, Windsor and Washington Counties.
“I’m very pleased that this generous funding from the Department will provide the Continuums of Care with vital support to assist homeless persons move toward self-sufficiency and permanent housing,” the Governor noted.
The State received an additional $363,129 in Emergency Shelter Grant funds from HUD, bringing the total Homeless Assistance award for Vermont this year to an impressive $2,871,902. These funds support essential services including job training, health care, drug/alcohol treatment, childcare and homelessness prevention activities.
The funding is awarded to the Vermont State Housing Authority, which dispenses the awards directly to the designated shelter and program recipients in the State.
