MONTGOMERY – Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded nearly $2.5 million in grants to help homeless Alabamians find immediate housing and to assist others who are in danger of becoming homeless.
The funds from the Emergency Solutions Grant program will support organizations across the state that provide shelter, legal and health services and financial education for families and individuals without a residence. The grant program also can assist these families with moving costs, including rental and utility deposits.
"While many of us gather with family and friends this time of year, it's important to remember that there are some Alabamians currently struggling to keep a roof over their heads and others who don't have a home at all," Ivey said. "I am pleased to award this funding to provide important aid to many families at a critical moment in their lives."
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
"The Emergency Solutions Grant program helps families dealing with very difficult times avoid homelessness and take important steps to becoming independent and self-sufficient," ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. "ADECA is pleased to join with Governor Ivey in providing this vital assistance to local programs who help families in need."
Governor Ivey awarded the grants to 14 governments and community agencies that administer the program locally and assess individual needs for those seeking assistance. Individuals or families requesting assistance can contact their local agency directly or may be referred by the program to a local shelter. Case managers screen applicants for program eligibility at the local level.
Below is a list of each amount awarded, the name of the grant recipient and the areas served:
- $275,000 to the Alabama Rural Coalition for the Homeless (Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Butler, Chambers, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Cleburne, Coffee, Conecuh, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, Dallas, Escambia, Fayette, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Lamar, Lee, Macon, Marengo, Marshall, Monroe, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Walker, Washington and Wilcox counties)
- $275,000 to the city of Florence (Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Marion and Winston counties)
- $223,039 to 2nd Chance (domestic violence victims in Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah, Randolph and Talladega counties)
- $200,000 to Penelope House (Mobile city)
- $200,000 to the city of Birmingham (Birmingham)
- $250,000 to the city of Tuscaloosa (Tuscaloosa County)
- $275,000 to the city of Huntsville (Huntsville)
- $245,870 to YWCA of Central Alabama (victims of domestic violence in Blount, Jefferson, and St. Clair counties)
- $133,786 to the Shelby County Commission (Shelby County)
- $200,000 to Housing First (Baldwin and Mobile counties)
- $200,000 to The Salvation Army of Coastal Alabama (Baldwin and Mobile counties)
- $20,000 to The Marshall County Home Place (Marshall County)
ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, energy conservation, water resource management and recreation development.
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