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HUD SECRETARY HIGHLIGHTS FAITH-BASED CONTRIBUTIONS TO FIGHTING HOMELESSNESS |
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From HUD Press Releases: Faith-based organizations are making a huge difference in the Bush Administration's efforts to reduce homelessness, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Steve Preston said today. Addressing the White House National Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Conference, Preston highlighted the Administration's partnership with faith-based and community organizations and steps being taken to reduce chronic homelessness, especially among veterans. "There is a vast, network of partnerships between HUD, local communities and nonprofit organizations around the country. From 2005 to 2006, communities across the country reported an approximate 12 percent decrease in the number of chronically homeless individuals. This reduction is directly attributed to the investment HUD and local "continuums of care" are devoting to create more permanent supportive housing units. The President's is seeking $1.6 billion for HUD's Continuum of Care homeless assistance grant programs in his Fiscal Year 2009 proposed budget. From 2003-2006, the number of direct nonprofit grantees of HUD's Continuum of Care program grew by nearly 500 organizations. Thanks to Congress and the President, in April 2008, HUD announced $75 million to provide permanent supportive housing for an estimated 10,000 homeless veterans nationwide. HUD's Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH), a joint program between HUD and the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs, provides local public housing agencies with approximately 10,000 rental assistance vouchers specifically targeted to assist homeless veterans in their area. The Bush Administration has requested another $75 million in the Fiscal Year 2009 budget, which would house and serve an additional 10,000 homeless veterans. In addition, HUD has also trained more than 40,000 nonprofit leaders in grant writing and other skills and offered almost 300 training seminars, many of which involved faith-based groups.
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