City Awarded Federal Homelessness Funds

NEW BEDFORD – Mayor Jon Mitchell announced today that the City of New Bedford has been awarded $2,293,066 in homeless assistance funding by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as part of a competitive grant process under HUD’s Continuum of Care Program.

HUD’s Continuum of Care grants provide critically needed support to local programs that serve individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The federal department recently announced a total of $3.2 billion in awards to renew and expand support to thousands of local homeless assistance programs across the nation.

New Bedford’s grant funds are awarded through a very competitive national application process, with local application efforts led by the City’s Office of Housing and Community Development. The office coordinates the City’s comprehensive response to homelessness, using a Continuum of Care methodology and working with the local Homeless Service Provider Network.

A Continuum of Care is a community’s plan or strategy to organize and deliver housing and services to meet the specific needs of people who are in a housing crisis and/or are experiencing homelessness, as they move toward stable housing and maximum self-sufficiency.  The strategy includes action steps to break cycles of homelessness.

HUD grant funding supports an array of interventions for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, particularly those living in places not meant for habitation, staying in shelters, or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. Each year, HUD funding serves hundreds of people through a coordinated entry system, emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, transitional housing, and permanent housing programs.

“This funding will strengthen our efforts to address homelessness in our City,” Mayor Mitchell said. “I want to thank all the members of our Homeless Service Provider Network for their hard work and dedication, as well as our Congressional delegation for their support.”

“Our network’s success in competing for these funds is directly attributable to the willingness of our partner agencies to evaluate and modify our systems and practices to meet complex and ever-changing needs,” said Josh Amaral, director of the City’s Office of Housing and Community Development. “At a time when our state is experiencing an acute housing shortage, the provision of high-quality, safe, permanent housing, and first-rate programs and services is more important than ever. We are pleased to see this part of our work validated among the many strategies we are employing to address housing challenges at all levels.”

The grant funding will support eight local programs, along with data and strategic planning efforts. Funds will be distributed to the following agencies and programs:

  • City of New Bedford: HMIS Project 2.0, $74,524
  • City of New Bedford: CoC Planning Project, $125,600
  • SEMCOA: Family Preservation Program, $459,487
  • PACE: Green Light Project, $145,045
  • CCFR: Portico, $687,718
  • PAACA: Step Up, $342,068
  • CCBC: The Call Combined, $50,000
  • CCBC: The Call Combined Expansion, $70,352
  • Steppingstone: Welcome Home, $338,272