HUD Announces $216 Million in New Continuum of Care Awards  

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded more than $216 million to nearly 700 new homeless programs across the country.  The grants announced today are $26 million more than last year's grants and, combined with renewal funding announced earlier in the year, represent the most homelessness assistance ever awarded by HUD. Included in today's announcement, HUD is also continuing to confront rural homelessness by targeting a record $16.4 million to 87 never-before-funded programs in less populated areas of the country.

In January, HUD awarded more than $1.4 billion in Continuum of Care  grants to renew funding to 7,000 existing local homeless programs. The funding announced today will invest in local projects which have never before received HUD homeless funds, providing critically needed housing and support services to an estimated 21,000 homeless individuals and families. Though homelessness is largely an urban phenomenon, HUD is reserving record funding to meet the unique challenges faced by homeless individuals and families living in rural areas.

"Today, we build on the Obama Administration's goal to prevent and end homelessness in America," said Donovan. "This funding will make a significant impact in the lives of thousands of people and provide resources to bring them towards the road of independence."

HUD's homelessness grants are reducing long-term or chronic homelessness in America. Based on the Department's latest Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR), chronic homelessness has declined by 30 percent since 2006. This decline is directly attributed to HUD's homeless grants helping to create significantly more permanent housing for those who might otherwise be living on the streets.

- View the list of programs around the country that received funding 

- Press release