FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 29, 2012
CONTACT: Karen Roper (714) 480-2805

COUNTY AWARDED $2.5 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING FOR HOMELESS SERVICES
HUD GRANT WILL DIRECTLY ASSIST THE COUNTY’S POPULATION OF HOMELESS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS

(Santa Ana, CA) – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently awarded $2,522,824 in new project funding to the County of Orange in homeless assistance funding under the 2011 Continuum of Care programs grant competition. The annual grant competition and the grant award to the County of Orange, with OC Community Services as the lead agency, is a direct result of the County’s partnership with cities and homeless service organizations to address the issue of homelessness in Orange County. This collaborative effort is part of a regional plan aimed at breaking the cycle of homelessness.

This grant funding will help 6 new programs in the County to begin to offer critically needed permanent-supportive housing and services to homeless persons and families.

“This additional funding will assist the County in our regional approach to help move families and individuals out of homelessness and into self-sufficiency,” stated Karen Roper, Director of OC Community Services.

The $2.5 million grant award will provide permanent-supportive housing for the disabled and special needs homeless populations. Since 1996 the County of Orange has secured $155,741,334 in funding from HUD through the Continuum of Care grant competition including $13,766,359 which was awarded in December for 2011 renewal projects. HUD allocates the funding directly to organizations successful in this national grant competition.

Accordingly, grant awards will go directly from HUD to the following recipients:

• Families Forward (Housing First) $425,000 for 4 permanent supportive housing units, supportive services, operations and HMIS to assist the homeless
• Mercy House (Campus Model) $393,689 for the acquisition of 6 permanent supportive housing units, supportive services, operations and HMIS to assist the homeless.
• Veteran’s First (Veteran’s Family Housing) $213,187 for 7 units of permanent supportive housing for veterans, supportive services, operations, and HMIS
• Illumination Foundation (Multi-Purpose Center $213,188 for 20 units of new construction, supportive services, and
  and Permanent Housing) operations
• Orange County Housing Authority/ $996,480 for Housing Vouchers for project based rental assistance for Veteran’s First disabled homeless
• Orange County Housing Authority/ $281,280 for Housing Vouchers for tenant based rental assistance for
  Colette’s Children’s Home disabled homeless

OC Community Services houses the County’s Homeless Prevention Division. OC Community Services also administers funds for participating cities and community-based organizations for homeless services and coordinates regional initiatives to address homelessness in Orange County. For more information about the County’s efforts to address homelessness, please contact Karen Roper at (714) 480-2805.

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