New Bedford receives $1.5 million in federal funds to address homelessness

Mayor Jon Mitchell has announced that the City of New Bedford has been awarded $1,575,909 in homeless assistance funding by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of a competitive grant competition under the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) Program.

The New Bedford Continuum of Care is administered locally by the City’s Department of Planning, Housing and Community Development (DPHCD) and the New Bedford Homeless Services Provider Network (HSPN). The competitive grant is part of an annual process and is the direct result of the City and the HSPN’s successful partnership in addressing the issue of homelessness in New Bedford.

“The award of this federal grant funding serves to highlight the important work that the Homeless Service Provider Network and the City of New Bedford are doing to address homelessness. Funding under these HUD grants is targeted to create a strong economic foundation and will help to find permanent housing solutions for homeless veterans and other New Bedford residents currently without a home “said Mayor Jon Mitchell.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julián Castro awarded $1.6 billion in grants to provide funding to 6,400 local homeless housing and service programs across the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. HUD indicated that “this year’s grants are being awarded in the most competitive environment HUD has experienced in the Continuum of Care grant program. To compete most effectively, communities made very challenging decisions, often shifting funds from existing projects to create new ones that will have a more substantial and lasting impact on homeless populations”.

The CoC application requires city government, agencies, volunteers and the community at large to develop innovative strategies to help people experiencing homelessness. Comprehensive planning is coordinated by the City’s DPHCD and HSPN. The network coordinates the local Continuum of Care program and meets monthly with over 50 agencies dedicated to ending homelessness.

The grant funding will help to support six local programs that were included in HUD’s Tier I ranking totaling $1,575,909. The remaining Tier II projects will be announced later this spring.

Patrick Sullivan, Director of the DPHCD added, “The challenges around ending homelessness are as complex as they are far-reaching. The strategies being developed by the DPHCD and the HSPN rise to this challenge and emphasize housing as a critical piece of the solution for those experiencing homelessness right now and into the future. This funding award confirms for us that the hard work so many are doing matters, has been effective and is setting us on a clear path for ensuring everyone who needs housing will have an opportunity for housing in this community.”

The $1.5 million in HUD CoC grant funding announced will be distributed to the following agencies:

• THE CALL (Catholic Social Services) ($46,757) – “THE CALL,” a program of Catholic Social Services, is a coordinated intake and assessment system for individuals and families experiencing homelessness across all agency lines. By dialing 1-800-HOMELESS from a 508 or 774 area code, families and individuals can access services and shelter offered locally including assistance with immediate and long-term housing needs as well as access to community and mainstream resources they need to stabilize in housing. This is a streamlined process that standardizes the shelter and support system for everyone while coordinating the referral process for everyone seeking shelter, housing and other services through a single point of entry.
• HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (HMIS City of New Bedford) $ 29,524 — “HMIS” is a mandated federal system used locally to aggregate data about the extent and nature of homelessness over time; produce an unduplicated count of homeless persons; understand patterns of service use; and measure the effectiveness of homeless assistance projects and programs. Data produced through HMIS is used for multiple purposes including strategic planning, monitoring the efficacy of programs and generating federally-mandated reporting for the City.
• FAMILY PRESERVATION PROGRAM (SEMCOA) $ 254,710—The Family Preservation Program is a permanent supportive housing program for families and households with children who have a disability and/or substance abuse disorder. The program has 16 scattered site housing units throughout the city with 46 beds of which 23 are designated as serving those considered chronically homeless.
• TRANSITION TO STABILITY (Catholic Social Services) $ 196,680 —The Transition to Stability Program is a “Rapid Re-Housing” program for families or households with children that utilize a “Housing First” approach to address homelessness—one which is considered a “best practice” by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. Besides housing placement, clients may also receive financial assistance, rental assistance and/or supportive services. The program has 10 scattered site housing units throughout the city with 26 beds of which 22 are designated for the chronically homeless.
• STEP UP (Positive Action Against Chemical Addition/PAACA) $ 272,669 —Step-Up is a permanent supportive housing program for families or households with children that helps hard to place clients with a variety of disabilities in stable housing. Clients participate in employment training programs with the eventual goal of independent living. The program has 15 scattered site housing units throughout the city with 36 beds of which 18 are designated as serving chronically homeless.
• PORTICO (Catholic Social Services) $ 577,920 — The Portico Program is a permanent supportive housing program for families or households with children focusing on helping them maximize housing stability, increase their income and achieve greater self-determination. The program has 46 scattered site housing units throughout the city with 123 beds of which 105 are designated for those experiencing chronic homelessness.
• WELCOME HOME (Steppingstone) $ 165,918— The Welcome Home Program is a permanent supportive housing program for individuals and families with a disabled head of household who has HIV/AIDS, substance abuse and chronic mental health issues. The program has 11 scattered site housing units throughout the city with 13 beds of which 7 are designated for those experiencing chronic homelessness.

For more information about the City’s efforts to address homelessness, please contact City of New Bedford’s Department of Planning, Housing & Community Development at (508) 979-1500 or visit the HSPN’s website at www.nbhspn.com.