HUD has released community allocations for the homelessness prevention funds passed as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Allocations for the state and cities within our region are as follows:
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Massachusetts: $18,443,744
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Chicopee: $531,528
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Holyoke: $551,671
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Pittsfield: $613,738
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Springfield: $1,700,800
Funding is for homelessness prevention and re-housing people who became homeless as a result of the economic crisis. Eligible activities: short- or medium-term rental assistance; housing relocation and stabilization services; housing search assistance; mediation or outreach to property owners; credit repair; security or utility deposits; utility payments; rental assistance for a final month at a location; moving costs assistance; case management; and other appropriate homelessness prevention and re-housing activities.
Information about people assisted with these funds will have to be tracked in HMIS. Grantees will have two years to spend the funds. HUD will issue guidance on the programs in March, and states and municipalities will have a period of 30-60 days to submit a plan to HUD describing how the funds will be used.
