Federal grants create housing opportunities for homeless adults and families
Summary
Seattle and King County have been awarded over $34 million in federal funding that make possible new permanent supportive housing and rapid re-housing units to move 164 households from homelessness, and renewal funding for housing and services to support hundreds of vulnerable individuals and families countywide.
Story
Federal funding announced today will support new and ongoing regional efforts to provide housing and services for homeless individuals and families across King County. The $34,457,083 award includes funding to create 164 new units of homeless housing for the region. A total of 63 permanent supportive housing units for chronically homeless single adults will be available through two projects, one located in Seattle and one with scattered sites countywide, in addition to 101 units of rapid re-housing that will be provided through two projects, one for single adults and one for households experiencing domestic violence.
King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Ed Murray announced the award following the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announcements of a record $1.95 billion in total grants awarded nationwide for Continuum of Care homeless assistance programs.
The funding awarded to the Seattle/King County Continuum of Care supports the continuation of 55 community-based projects for a total of 2,410 units of housing: 1,910 units of permanent supportive housing for homeless people with disabilities and 500 units of transitional housing. The total includes funding for two Safe Haven facilities that offer supportive housing for homeless adults with severe mental illnesses.
Also renewed is funding for Coordinated Entry, a standardized assessment process for all homeless persons designed to match the right level of housing and services for every person or family facing a housing crisis, and funding for the Homeless Management Information System, which collects data on services provided to homeless people in programs throughout King County. The award also supports Continuum of Care planning.
Seattle and King County jointly apply for the federal Continuum of Care grants each year. The funding from HUD was provided to the highest performing local programs proven effective in meeting the needs of persons experiencing homelessness in their communities.
The full list of organizations receiving funds can be viewed here.