Broward County Receives Grant of More than $8 Million to Assist Area’s Homeless Population

BROWARD COUNTY, FL – In support of goals and objectives in the County’s “A Way Home” Plan to End Homelessness, the Broward County Homeless Initiative Partnership has been awarded grants of more than $8 million by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the 2015 HUD Homeless Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Competition.

The HUD CoC Program award will fund 18 renewal initiatives and 1 new project providing Supportive Services, Homeless Management Information System Support, CoC Planning, Transitional Housing, Rapid Rehousing, and Permanent Supportive Housing. The projects provide 705 permanent, 112 rapid rehousing, and 25 transitional beds (842 beds total) with related supportive services to Broward’s homeless population. Most importantly, these new funds will create 30 new permanent supportive housing beds for chronically homeless persons in partnership with Broward County Housing Authority and Broward Housing Solutions.

All the projects funded help fulfill goals set out in the “A Way Home” Plan to End Homelessness, approved by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners in August 2013.

The 19 CoC Program projects funded via the 2015 HUD CoC Program award will serve homeless adult and youth clients, including:

-individuals, families, veterans;
-those with mental, emotional and physical disabilities;
-individuals with substance abuse disorders;
-mothers with children including pregnant women; and
-those who are “chronically” homeless and those who have co-occurring disorders

The $8.1 million awarded to the Broward County Homeless Initiative Partnership and $2.2 million directly managed by community providers makes up the $10.3 million awarded through the Broward Homeless CoC. In light of the most competitive HUD Homeless Continuum of Care Competition to date, Michael R. Wright, HIP Administrator praised the Homeless Continuum of Care Advisory Board and Committee members for their earnest commitment to prioritize funding; implementation of coordinated assessment; adoption of housing first principles, and informed decision making based on data as the foundation for Broward’s success in receiving funding for all projects submitted in the 2015 Application.

For more information, visit HIP’s website, view the “A Way Home” Plan to End Homelessness or the Homelessness in Broward County 2014 Point-In-Time Count reports.

About the Homeless Initiative Partnership
The Homeless Initiative Partnership (HIP), a section within the Community Partnerships Division of the Broward County Human Services Department, plans and coordinates services for homeless persons, and serves as liaison to the Homeless Initiative Partnership Advisory Board, which acts as agent for the Board of County Commissioners in the development and implementation of “A Way Home” plan homeless assistance programs. HIP is also the lead agency for the County’s Homeless Continuum of Care, a network of organizations, advocates, residents and businesses that plan programs to help alleviate homelessness in Broward County. The goal is to end veteran homelessness by 2016; chronic homelessness by 2017, and family and youth homelessness by 2020. For more information, call 954-357-6101 or visit the Homeless Services website.

MEDIA CONTACT: Michael R. Wright, MPA, Broward County
PHONE: 954-357-6167
EMAIL: mwright (at) broward (dot) org