From: Hugh Forehand, Director of Community Development
Re: Availability of Sub-grantee Application
Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP)
Newport News, Virginia
As discussed with CoC members previously, the City of Newport News expects to receive $659,087 in HPRP funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. On behalf of the City, the Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NNRHA) will be accepting HPRP funding requests from non-profit service providers during the period beginning July 13, 2009 until 5:00 pm August 7, 2009.
Please note that HUD approval of the City’s HPRP submission has not been received to date, although we expect that this approval will be forthcoming in the next few days. Therefore, awards following review of subgrantee applications by the HPRP Steering Committee comprised of City and NNRHA staff members will be subject to HUD approval of the City’s HPRP funding request.
Application forms are available on the NNRHA’s website (http://www.nnrha.com/hprp1.html) or may be obtained from the Authority’s Community Development Department at 227 27th Street, Newport News or by telephone via Ms. Beverly Lee at 928-2655. Please note that electronic versions of the application can be downloaded and completed on your computer which will be useful in completion of your request for funding. Thereafter, your completed application must be copied and submitted to NNRHA within the aforementioned timeframes.
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Beverly Lee, as noted, at any time.
Task Force Elections
Congratulations to Sarah Meacham of Avalon Center (Williamsburg) and Marcy Wright of Transitions Family Violence (Hampton) on being elected 2009-2010 Task Force Chair and Co-Chair!
Guidelines and Application for Virginia Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program funds (HPRP)
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will receive $11.4 million in Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program funds. DHCD has just released preliminary guidelines on the process and timeline of the administration of these funds.
Foreclosure Prevention/Loss Mitigation Housing Counseling Grant
The Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA) and the Commonwealth of Virginia, specifically the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), arepartnering to provide a grant opportunity in the amount of $500,000 for the purpose of Hiring and/or Redirecting Existing Staff for Foreclosure Prevention/Loss Mitigation Housing Counseling . The grant dollars are funded equally by VHDA and the Commonwealth of Virginia for eligible applicants under this program Grant. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has assisted with VHDA in crafting the application and DHCD will assist with review of applications and awards.
The current economic crisis and its impact on homelessness and on the homeless services system have increased demand for current data on homelessness. In response to that demand, HRI has created an Interactive Map of media reports of January 2009 point-in-time counts. This map serves as a database of January 2009 point-in-time counts that have been reported in the media or on Continuum of Care websites. While most of the reports to date (63 percent) are of increases, there are many communities that have seen decreases overall or in particular subpopulations. New reports are added regularly, and links to news stories or Continuum of Care websites are included.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed on February 17th, 2009, provides $1.5 billion, allocated according to the current Emergency Shelter Grants formula with a grant minimum of $500,000, to help families who are either homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. This program will provide financial and other assistance to prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless and help those who are experiencing homelessness to be quickly re-housed and stabilized. The funds under this program are intended to target individuals and families who would be homeless but for this assistance. The funds will provide for a variety of assistance, including: short-term or medium-term rental assistance and housing relocation and stabilization services, including such activities as mediation, security or utility deposits, utility payments, moving cost assistance, and case management.
To view additional information, go to the Current Highlights section on HUD’s Homelessness Resource Exchange (HUD HRE) at www.hudhre.info.
HUD Announces FY08 CoC and FY09 ESG Awards
Hundreds of thousands of homeless individuals and families will find a stable home and be offered critically needed services as a result of nearly $1.6 billion in homeless assistance announced today by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan. The grants are awarded through HUD’s Continuum of Care programs and will assist approximately 6,300 local homeless assistance projects throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Emergency Shelter Grants Program. For a local summary of the grant funding announced today, please visit either of the following websites: www.hudhre.info www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/homeless/budget/2008/index.cfm
FEMA Announces $200 Million in Homeless Prevention Aid Awards
On December 19, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that it awarded $200 million in grants to help prevent homelessness. The funding will be made available through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), which is appropriated annually through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. EFSP distributes federal funds to local communities for homelessness prevention, including emergency food and shelter services. At the local level, EFSP funds are distributed under the supervision of local boards. EFSP combats homelessness by providing one-time monetary grants to families whose short-term crisis situations leave them behind on rent, utilities, or mortgage payments. It can also fund shelter or hotel placements, meals, and groceries. For a list of organizations receiving funding in your area, click here.
