The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced $2 billion to more than 7,300 local homeless housing and service programs across the U.S. and Guam under the Continuum of Care (CoC) grants program, up from $1.95 billion for 2016.
HUD funding under CoC provides support to local programs that serve individuals and families experiencing homelessness particularly those living in places not meant for habitation, located in sheltering programs or at imminent risk of becoming homeless.
Homeless Housing in Short Supply, in Some Markets
According to HUD’s 2017 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, homelessness is on the rise. The study found 553,742 persons experienced homelessness on a single night in 2017, an increase of .7 percent since last year. While homelessness among families with children declined 5.4 percent nationwide since 2016, local communities report long-term chronic homelessness increased.
A significant increase in the number of reported persons experiencing unsheltered homelessness, particularly in high-cost rental markets where there is a significant shortage of affordable housing.
This year, HUD awarded grants to 83 new Joint Transitional Housing – Permanent Housing-Rapid Rehousing (Joint TH & PH-RRH) projects. CoC project applicants were also allowed to expand existing eligible renewal projects to increase the number of units or serve additional people. New and renewal projects could also be classified as DedicatedPLUS, a classification that allows for more flexibility in serving the chronically homeless.
This year, the program reallocated more than $90 million in renewal funding and is awarding $120 million in new projects, including critical investments in permanent supportive housing (PSH) and rapid re-housing (RRH).
Review awards by state using an interactive map on HUD’s website.