Grants Will Allow 25 Agencies to Serve More Than 9,000 At-Risk of Homelessness
Albany, NY – August 28, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — The State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) today announced the award of nearly $25 million in homelessness prevention grants through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. The funds will allow 25 agencies to provide services in 33 counties through the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP).“We must continue to do all we can to help the most vulnerable New Yorkers get through this economic downturn and ensure that those on the brink are not forced into homelessness,” Governor Paterson said. “By helping these individuals and families secure and maintain safe, stable housing, we can help them begin on a path to economic security.”
“This funding will play a critical role in ensuring housing stability for literally thousands of New Yorkers,” said Kristin Proud, Deputy Secretary for Human Services, Technology and Operations, who is currently overseeing the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. “Equally important are the services and supports these individuals and families will receive to move toward achieving increased self-sufficiency and, with it, a life of independence.”
The grants announced today are part of $1.5 billion made available through ARRA for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Homelessness Prevention Fund, including a total of $141.2 million awarded to New York State communities. The state’s larger municipalities received this funding directly from the federal government, with the remaining $24.9 million being awarded competitively by OTDA.
The HPRP funds will provide much-needed services to New York families at-risk of homelessness while helping those already homeless to find stable housing. Services to be provided include short- and medium-term rental assistance, legal services, case management, locating available housing and financial counseling. More than 9,000 individuals will benefit from these programs. Additionally, more than half the projects awarded funding are multi-agency collaborations, addressing gaps in their respective communities.
Organizations awarded funding are listed below.
| Agency | Counties To Be Served | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wait House | Warren, Washington, Saratoga, Essex | $2,469,837 |
| Oswego County Opportunities | Oswego | $1,932,657 |
| Albany County Department of Social Services | Albany | $1,160,354 |
| Options for Independence | Cayuga | $1,260,729 |
| Delaware Opportunities | Delaware | $380,848 |
| Schenectady Community Action Program | Schenectady | $856,642 |
| ETC Housing Corp. | Clinton | $456,786 |
| Project Hospitality | Richmond | $900,000 |
| Rural Ulster Preservation Company | Ulster | $1,019,242 |
| Joseph’s House and Shelter, Inc. | Rensselaer | $872,681 |
| Catholic Charities of Chenango County | Chenango | $1,633,529 |
| Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY | Fulton, Montgomery, Schoharie | $719,375 |
| Community Action of Greene County, Inc. | Greene | $347,889 |
| Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council, Inc. | Kings | $1,566,747 |
| Hudson River Housing | Dutchess | $225,000 |
| Community Action Program for Madison County | Madison | $746,685 |
| Catholic Charities of Cortland County | Cortland | $327,318 |
| Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency | Oneida, Herkimer | $1,051,441 |
| Tompkins County Department of Social Services | Tompkins | $2,430,000 |
| Columbia Opportunities, Inc. | Columbia | $584,962 |
| Steuben County Department of Social Services | Steuben | $466,353 |
| Opportunities for Otsego | Otsego | $444,539 |
| ACCORD | Allegany | $391,973 |
| Catholic Charities of Chemung/Schuyler | Chemung | $666,929 |
| Jefferson County Department of Social Services | Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence | $1,976,682 |
