New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
“Mayor Jon Mitchell announced today that the City of New Bedford has been awarded $2,092,585 in homeless assistance funding by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as part of a competitive grant process under HUD’s Continuum of Care Program.
HUD’s Continuum of Care grants provide critically needed support to local programs that serve individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The federal department recently announced a total of $2.8 billion in awards to renew and expand support to thousands of local homeless assistance programs across the nation.
New Bedford’s grant funds are awarded through a competitive national application process, with local application efforts led by the City’s Office of Housing and Community Development. The office coordinates the City’s comprehensive response to homelessness, using a Continuum of Care methodology and working with the City’s Homeless Service Provider Network (HSPN).
A Continuum of Care is a community’s plan or strategy to organize and deliver housing and services to meet the specific needs of people who are in a housing crisis and/or are experiencing homelessness, as they move toward stable housing and maximum self-sufficiency. The strategy includes action steps to break the cycles of homelessness.
HUD grant funding supports a variety of interventions for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, particularly those living in places not meant for habitation, staying in shelters, or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. Each year, HUD funding serves hundreds of people through a coordinated entry system, emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, and permanent housing programs.
“Every day the City and the HSPN work without fanfare to address the complex issue of homelessness. This new funding will enable that work to continue and will strengthen our efforts to stabilize the lives most vulnerable in our City,” said Mayor Jon Mitchell. “I wish to thank our Congressional delegation for their support of the program.”
“Funding received through these grants is essential for ensuring housing and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness,” said Joshua Amaral, Director of the City’s Office of Housing and Community Development. “This Continuum of Care application is competitive and requires a high degree of collaboration and coordination between our office and the HSPN throughout the year.”
The federal grant funding will support eight local programs, along with data and strategic planning efforts. Funds will be distributed to the following programs and agencies:
§ FAMILY PRESERVATION PROGRAM (SEMCOA) $ 321,737
§ WELCOME HOME (Steppingstone) $ 218,837
§ PORTICO (Catholic Social Services) $ 725,211
§ STEP UP (Positive Action Against Chemical Addition/PAACA) $ 316,917
§ PRISM (Catholic Social Services) $ 132,155
§ WELCOME HOME EXPANSION (Steppingstone) $ 89,978
§ FAMILY PRESERVATION PROGRAM EXPANSION (SEMCOA) $ 89,971
§ THE CALL COORDINATED ENTRY (Catholic Social Services) $ 50,000
§ HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (HMIS) $ 74,524
§ CoC PLANNING PROJECT $ 73,255
For more information about the City’s efforts to address homelessness, please contact the City of New Bedford’s Office of Housing & Community Development at (508) 979-1500 or visit the HSPN’s website at www.nbhspn.com.”
