More Than $1,370,000 Going to Help Those in Need
Albany, NY – October 22, 2009 – The State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) today announced that it has awarded homelessness prevention grants of more than $1.3 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 to Broome County and the City of Troy in Rensselaer County. The funding comes through the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) and is in addition to nearly $25 million in HPRP grants announced by OTDA in late August.
OTDA awarded $431,338 to Joseph’s House and Shelter, Inc., and $388,590 to Unity House of Troy, Inc. These funds had originally been designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the City of Troy, but reverted to New York State after the city declined the funding. OTDA worked with the community-based organizations to ensure these much-needed services are still provided in Troy.
OTDA also awarded $561,301 to the Broome County Department of Social Services. These funds had originally been designated by HUD for the Town of Union, but reverted to New York State after the town was unable to fulfill the requirements of receiving the grant.
“We are pleased that we have been able to ensure that this funding remains in Broome County and the City of Troy, and that the services needed there will be provided,” said Kristin Proud, Deputy Secretary for Human Services, Technology and Operations, who is currently overseeing OTDA. “This funding will be used to help individuals and families secure and maintain safe, stable housing, which can help them begin on a path to economic security.”
“We are so pleased and grateful to know that these funds will be made available to folks in Troy where the need has never been greater,” said Tracy Neitzel, Executive Director of Joseph’s House & Shelter. “We are very happy to be partnering with the State to make these services available and appreciate all of the individual and group efforts that made it happen.”
“We are relieved and grateful that New York State has redirected the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing federal funds for their original purpose so that residents of the city of Troy who are on the verge of homelessness can and will still benefit,” said Chris Burke, Executive Director of Unity House. “Unity House’s mission is rooted in helping those in need, so we are pleased that with Joseph’s House we can administer the program and assist those in our community struggling to pay housing or utility bills.”
“A lot of people in Broome County have lost their jobs over the last year. Many of them are really struggling to make ends meet,” said Art Johnson, Broome County Social Services Commissioner. “This funding will make a big difference in their lives. I appreciate the state’s efforts to help us secure this funding.”
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. Most of the state’s larger municipalities received this funding directly from the federal government. In August, OTDA awarded the remaining $24.9 million to 25 agencies around the state.
The HPRP funds are being used to provide services to New York families at-risk of homelessness while helping those already homeless to find stable housing. Services include short- and medium-term rental assistance, legal services, case management, locating available housing and financial counseling.
