Date:

January 27, 2005

For More Information Contact:

Diane Gonzolas, Citizen Information Center, 441-7831

Bradd Schmeichel, Urban Development, 441-7856

Reginald Robinson, HUD, Omaha, 492-3138

Mayor Coleen J. Seng today announced that local agencies serving the homeless have been awarded more than $2 million in federal grants. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awards “Continuum of Care” grants through a competitive process. The grants provide permanent and transitional housing as well as job training, health care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment and child care.

“This is the largest amount Lincoln agencies have received from this HUD grants program,” said Mayor Seng. “This is an indication of the strength of our local programs in meeting the needs of our homeless population. These grants will allow them to continue and enhance the vital services they offer to individuals and families in crisis.”

All of the grants received by Lincoln agencies are renewals except for the CenterPointe Permanent Housing Project. Grant recipients are:

• CenterPointe, Inc. - $556,775 for its Permanent Housing Project (30 beds); $187,612 for its GlidePATH Transitional Housing Project (22 beds); and $443,273 for its Transitional Housing Project (25 beds).
• Lincoln Action Program - $449,539 for LAP’s supportive housing project, the City’s largest transitional housing project for families with a capacity of 165.
• Saint Monica’s - $140,456 for the Women in Transition program (29 beds).
• CEDARS Youth Services - $130,707 for the New Futures project which provides transitional housing for homeless pregnant and parenting teen-agers and their children.
• Catholic Social Services - $93,683 for transitional housing for seven families

The local agencies that provide services to those in need are members of the Lincoln Lancaster County Homeless Coalition, founded in the mid-1980s. The Coalition formed a Continuum of Care Planning and Evaluation Committee in 1996 to submit the application for federal funds, to identify service gaps, to coordinate the “Point in Time Count” of the homeless and to conduct peer review of service providers.

The total in grants awarded to Nebraska agencies is $5.9 million. HUD officials say the grants will support more than 3,700 programs nationwide, and more than 700,000 Americans will receive services. CLICK HERE for Details on the HUD grants.