PROVIDENCE, RI – In an effort to support Rhode Island’s continued work to prevent and end homelessness, U.S. Senator Jack Reed today announced $5,796,184 in federal Continuum of Care (CoC) grants for Rhode Island homeless assistance programs.  This federal funding, administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), will support 38 homeless assistance projects around the state that enable local providers and community partners to deliver safe, affordable housing and supportive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Rhode Island.

“This federal funding will help fund rapid rehousing and permanent housing for homeless persons and families in need.  Helping people who are experiencing homelessness, or on the brink of homelessness, get access to shelter, care, and supportive services can save lives and save taxpayer dollars.  Whether it’s helping a homeless veteran who is struggling with PTSD or a family that is facing an eviction and at risk of becoming homeless, these grants help stabilize vulnerable individuals and families.  We are committed to preventing and ending homelessness throughout the state, and these federal funds are vital to keeping that commitment,” said Senator Reed, the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (THUD), who helped provide more than $2 billion for the CoC program in the fiscal year 2017 omnibus appropriations bill.

The federal grants will be administered by HUD, coordinated at the state level by Rhode Island Housing, and jointly administered by non-profits throughout the state.  These funds offer a variety of housing and services including transitional and permanent supportive housing, rapid re-housing, street outreach, client assessment, and other services.  Grants will also support new projects, including two youth-specific programs run by Foster Forward, Rhode Island’s leading advocacy organization for youth aging out of foster care, and the Community Care Alliance, a Woonsocket-based non-profit that will help rapidly rehouse youths in northern Rhode Island.

Senator Reed has been a strong supporter of housing assistance and homelessness prevention initiatives and has led efforts in the Senate to increase funding to address the root causes of homelessness.  Reed is the author of the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act, which President Obama signed into law in May of 2009.  This legislation streamlined and boosted homeless assistance and prevention grant programs and required the development of a “national strategic plan” to end homelessness. This plan, Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, was produced and led by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and serves as the national roadmap to end veterans’ and chronic homelessness, as well as to end homelessness among children, family, and youth.

State and local homeless projects receiving the competitive federal grants include:

414 Friendship Street: $63,380

70 Linwood Apartments: $179,535

ACCESS to Home: $297,750

Agape Permanent Supportive Housing Program: $24,055

Amos House Swan Street: $47,056

Burnside Avenue Permanent Supportive Housing: $71,762

CoC Planning Grant: $234,913

Coming Home Permanent Supportive Housing Project: $161,320

Constitution Hill Supportive Housing Program: $135,000

Community Care Alliance/Rapid Re-Housing of Northern Rhode Island (Youth Project): $132,978

CCA - Rapid ReHousing in Northern Rhode Island: $33,701

Crossroads Rapid Re-Housing Project for Families-2017: $188,058

Crossroads RI Family PSH: $146,580

East, Earl and Warwick Ave.: $30,638

Eastbay Coalition for the Homeless Transitional Housing Project: $47,535

Fair Street: $39,464

Foster Forward Rapid Rehousing for Former Foster Youth: $229,254

Fran Conway House of Hope: $125,893

Gemini Apartments: $27,214

Greater Westerly Supportive Housing Expansion Project: $66,048

Haswill Street: $50,296

Lucy's Hearth Transitional Housing Program: $40,592

Operation Stand Down West Warwick: $174,755

Pawtucket Housing Authority’s Rapid Rehousing Project: $215,510

Permanent Housing for Disabled Adults: $91,486

Permanent Housing for Disabled Elders: $101,897

Rhode Island Family Shelter: $68,154

Rhode Island Homeless Management Information System: $152,064

Rhode Island Housing Permanent Supportive Housing Project: $231,352

Rhode Island Housing Rental Assistance: $103,800

Shelter Plus Care: $1,764,069

Sojourner House Rapid Re-Housing: $152,592

Sarah Frances Grant Homestead: $49,441

Statewide TBRA for the Homeless 2017: $50,851

S+C Project: $114,193

Travelers Aid Housing: $33,083

Travelers Aid of Rhode Island: $43,225

Tremont Street 2017: $76,690

TOTAL: $5,796,184