FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2001
Contact: Karen Roper 714.834.3355
(after-hours, 423-8315)
or Ken Domer
714 480.299
Orange County Receives
$4.1 million in Homeless Assistance Grant
(Santa Ana, CA) - The
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
announced today a $4.1 million homeless assistance grant
award to the County of Orange. The grant, awarded under
the Continuum of Care Super Notice of Funding Availability
(SuperNOFA) process, recognizes the County of Orange's
collaboration with hundreds of non-profit organizations,
cities and County agencies on a regional plan to reduce
the growing number of homeless. Led by the County's Housing
& Community Development Department (H&CD), the
CEO Homeless Coordinator and the Continuum of Care Leadership
Cabinet, the grant award will be used by five applicants
to care for and assist the County's estimated 18,000 homeless.
"I am extremely pleased that once again a spirit
of cooperation has produced a grant award to address our
County's homeless population," said Chuck Smith,
Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. "I appreciate
everyone's efforts on this great accomplishment and I
look forward to putting the money to good use helping
those in greatest need."
The $4.1 million dollar award represents five outstanding
projects including transitional shelter for families,
substance abuse treatment programs, child care services,
and housing assistance for disabled and special needs
populations. Each project went through a review and recommendation
process for inclusion in the 2000 Continuum of Care Homeless
Assistance Program application. Although directed to specific
programs, the grant awards benefit homeless throughout
the County.
Award recipients include:
Health Care Agency
$1,406,940
For 30 Shelter Plus Care Section 8 Vouchers to
provide permanent supportive housing for disabled
and special needs populations
HOMES, Inc.
$420,000
For acquisition of a 29-unit apartment complex
and $1,275,420 for 29 Shelter Plus Care Section
8 Vouchers to provide permanent supportive housing
for disabled and special needs populations
Serving People in Need
$155,951
For renewal of a substance abuse recovery program
serving (SPIN) 186 homeless individuals per year
Fullerton Interfaith.
$756,000
For renewal of a childcare program providing services
to 10
Emergency Services, Inc
Homeless shelters in Orange County
Thomas House
$92,400
For renewal of a grant to provide transitional
housing for homeless families
"The grant award is only part of the story,"
said Paula Burrier-Lund, H&CD Director. "The
County of Orange and its city and non-profit partners
recognize the need to move forward to proactively address
the issue of homelessness. This award is confirmation
of the strength of that partnership."
These grants are the result of an annual competitive process
by HUD which issues a Super Notice of Funding Availability
(SuperNOFA) for Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance
programs. "These federal funds will provide Orange
County agencies with additional resources to create a
comprehensive regional approach to end the cycle of homelessness,"
said Representative Loretta Sanchez. "The Supportive
Housing Program and Shelter Plus Care Programs are successful
because they provide individuals and families with the
training and support they need to successfully achieve
independent living." -more- County Receives $4.1
million Page three
These successfully funded projects are part of the County's
proactive efforts to address homelessness. One sign of
its commitment was the Board's creation of the position
of Homeless Prevention Coordinator. Additionally, the
County actively works with cities and non-profits through
the Continuum of Care Community Forum and other regional
planning collaboratives to find more effective approaches
to the problems of homelessness. The County also administers
funds for participating cities and community-based organizations
for homeless services through H&CD.
For more information about the County's efforts to address
homelessness, visit http://www.oc.ca.gov
and click on Homeless Prevention.
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