Federal Initiative Aims To Provide Coordinated Services for the Homeless

Forget the piecemeal approaches to help the homeless. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) now is taking what it deems as a “first-of-its-kind” package to provide coordinated services to address unsheltered homelessness and homeless encampments, including setting aside funds specifically to assist the homeless in rural communities.

The “Initiative for Unsheltered and Rural Homelessness” is a $365 million package that includes grant funds along with additional vouchers that will enhance communities’ capacity to humanely and effectively address unsheltered homelessness by connecting vulnerable individuals and families to housing, health care and supportive services. The initiative promotes partnerships with health care organizations, public housing authorities and mainstream housing providers, and people with lived experience and expertise of homelessness.

“We have a responsibility to ensure that people sleeping in their vehicles, in tents or on the streets, including in rural areas, have access to decent, stable housing and services, like health care and treatment, to live with dignity and safety,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “Solving unsheltered homelessness means delivering help to the people who need it the most, but who have the hardest time reaching it. It means putting housing first, and health care and other supportive services right after. With this funding, communities will have the resources to scale up coordinated efforts to humanely and effectively move people from encampments into homes by linking homeless outreach with health care, treatment and housing.”

Specifically, the package includes:

• $322 million in Continuum of Care Program grants through a special notice of funding opportunity to fund homeless outreach, permanent housing, supportive services and other costs as part of a comprehensive community approach to solve unsheltered homelessness, including a set-aside of $54.5 million specifically for rural communities. These grants will fund projects for three-years, after which they will be eligible for renewal through the annual Continuum of Care program competition.
• $43 million to fund approximately 4,000 new incremental vouchers will be allocated via a separate NOFO to public housing authorities with a priority to those that are partners in comprehensive community approaches to solve homelessness. These vouchers can serve households experiencing or at-risk of homelessness; those fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and veterans and families that include a veteran family member that meets one of the proceeding criteria.

Whether or not those living in homeless encampments want to accept the assistance provided via the initiative remains to be seen. However, it is promising that the option will be made available to them.

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