COUNTY RECEIVES $4.3 MILLION FOR HOMELESS PROJECTS

January 8, 2009 (San Diego) -- More than $4.3 million is going to local programs that help homeless individuals find shelter and deal with challenges such as mental illness, disabilities and domestic violence. East County Magazine has e-mailed the County to inquire whether any of these funds will address the growing homelessness needs in East County.

The County Department of Housing and Community Development applied for the funds from the Supportive Housing Program of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD. The County identified the greatest needs in the community by working with local governments and nonprofit agencies.

The money will go to programs in the unincorporated areas and local cities, except for the City of San Diego, which applies for its own funds. This regional effort has resulted in close to $150 million in federal homeless funding in the county over the past 15 years.

This year’s award includes renewal funding for 25 existing projects throughout the County sponsored by a variety of agencies that provide services including job training, health care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment and child care. Grants are awarded competitively to local programs that provide transitional and permanent housing services for homeless persons and families, primarily in North County and San Diego.

This year's recipients include: Alpha Project, one project; City of Oceanside, one project; Community Housing Works, three projects; Community Resource Center, one project; County Department of Housing and Community Development, two projects; Crisis House, two projects; Mental Health Systems, three projects; North County Interfaith Council, four projects; North County Solutions for Change, one project; Regional Task Force on the Homeless, two projects; South Bay Community Services, three projects; Vietnam Veterans of San Diego, one project; Volunteers of America, one project.

The County is awaiting HUD’s review of one new project sponsored by Mental Health Systems, which would use the money to help provide long-term housing and support services to homeless people in the North County who are chronically homeless and disabled. HUD is expected to award funds to new projects nationwide early this year.

A complete list of local recipients is on the following page. For more information about homeless resources, visit the Housing and Community Development Web site.