Grant Programs Make Being at Home an Option for the Holidays

Many songs on the radio during this season mention the warmth of being at home. Songs such as “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays” come to mind. It is in this vein that we recognize the efforts of recent federal programs funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to enable more Americans to have someplace to call home.

For example, HUD teamed with the Department of Veterans Affairs this week to award more than $18 million in HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers to 103 public housing agencies (PHAs) in 33 states across the country to support veterans experiencing homelessness. The HUD-VASH program provides housing and an array of supportive services to veterans experiencing homelessness by combining rental assistance from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by VA. “I’m pleased that we are able to bring this proven solution to more veterans experiencing homelessness, particularly during the holiday season,” said HUD Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman.

Added VA Deputy Secretary Donald Remy: “Beyond making market-rate housing affordable for eligible low-income veterans, the HUD-VASH program helps them achieve long-term stability by identifying and addressing the root causes of their homelessness to prevent them from experiencing housing crises in the future, honoring our sacred obligation as a nation to ensure every veteran has a place to call home.”

Under another program, the Foster Youth to Independence Initiative, HUD recently said it would provide $1 million to PHAs to provide housing assistance to youth who are aging out of foster care and are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Some 26 PHAs in 20 states will receive this funding to continue HUD’s efforts to assist young people transitioning out of foster care. Earlier this fall, HUD provided $14 million to 18 PHAs through this program.

“Every young person deserves the opportunity to live with housing stability. HUD’s Foster Youth to Independence Initiative has made that a reality for hundreds of youth by helping to provide access to housing for those who are aging out of foster care,” said Danielle Bastarache, HUD deputy assistant secretary for public housing and voucher programs. “Our department is pleased to provide additional funding to public housing agencies across the country so they can support more individuals as they lay the foundation for their future success.”

Although many may not be able to call someplace “home” this year, it’s good to know that federal funding is going to programs that can give some people hope – and maybe some warmth -- during the holiday season.

Join us for our following Thompson Grants event:
Nonprofit Legal, Finance, and Grants Conference| March 22, 2022 | Washington, D.C.