Bay Area To Receive Millions From HUD For Homeless Programs
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) –The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is awarding over $200 million in federal grants to support local homeless programs across the country, and California is getting the biggest piece of the pie.
87 new projects in California will receive almost $38 million. San Francisco will receive $1.2 million, Santa Clara County $826,000 and Alameda County $852,000.
KCBS' Barbara Taylor Reports:
"Ending homelessness in America once and for all, that's what this announcement is fundamentally about," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "These efforts support a broad range of housing and services and fund efforts from street outreach to transitional and rapid rehousing as well as permanent homes that individuals and families who are homeless need."
San Francisco developed the Continuum of Care model back in the late 1980's, which provides permanent and transitional housing to homeless persons as well as services such as job training, health care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment and child care.
While the programs have helped thousands of homeless rebuild their lives, the problem still remains in the city. But Donovan said homelessness has declined 2.1 percent from 2010 to 2011 and by 12 percent among homeless veterans over that same time period.
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