City Receives $1M in HUD Funding Bonus to Create Permanent Housing for Homeless

Partnership with HomeStart Inc. to Yield 22 New Permanent Homes Under City’s Leading the Way III Housing Strategy

July 20, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — Mayor Thomas M. Menino today announced that the Department of Neighborhood Development (DND) has recently been awarded a Permanent Housing Funding Bonus grant of more than $1 million by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that will provide for permanent housing for 22 homeless families who are currently living in emergency shelter, or in hotels or motels.

The funding will enable the City’s partner, HomeStart Inc., to permanently house some of the most vulnerable families currently living in the emergency shelter system, through a new program called The Welcome Home Project. The program will also provide families with supportive services designed to promote long-term independence. HomeStart Inc. estimates that as many as 40 children will be placed in housing through the program.

“Here in Boston, we’re working hard to find new ways to combat the complex issue of homelessness. We know that the combination of a robust emergency shelter system that provides a safety net for those who find themselves homeless – plus permanent housing and supportive services – is a strong strategy to pursue,” said Mayor Menino. “HomeStart is one of many terrific partners working with us on this. With this critical funding for The Welcome Home Project, we can now help 22 families by giving them a stable place to call home and the services they need to be successful.”

Specifically, The Welcome Home Project will assist families with the process of searching for and moving into an apartment, and will also provide the needed stabilization services. Among the services to be provided through the newly funded program, are: providing access to educational and vocational training; assistance with budgeting; connections to neighborhood services and opportunities, including childcare options, as well as connections to all mainstream benefits to which they are entitled.

“We are honored to partnering with the City of Boston on The Welcome Home Project, which will serve those families living with the dual challenges of homelessness and disability,” said HomeStart Inc. Board Member, Mary Marshall. “HomeStart’s team of experienced counselors and clinicians will develop and implement a plan for housing stabilization which is uniquely tailored to meet the needs of each of these families, while monitoring their progress once housed to insure long term stabilization and self-sufficiency.”

Each year, Boston receives approximately $20 million in homelessness funding from the Federal government, made possible by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1986. The annual grant supports the work of nearly 60 service provider organizations across Boston for a variety of transitional, permanent, and housing with services activities. In November 2009, DND applied to HUD for a $1,022,804 “Permanent Housing Funding Bonus” formula grant to assist HomeStart in their efforts.

“One of the key strategies of the Mayor’s Leading the Way III housing plan is to reduce family homelessness in Boston by 50%. This grant will assist us in achieving that goal,” said Evelyn Friedman, Mayor Menino’s Chief of Housing and Director of the Department of Neighborhood Development. “Our successful application to HUD speaks to our strong record of finding opportunities to provide permanent affordable housing to homeless families.”

Leading the Way III, launched by Mayor Menino in the Spring of 2009, is the City’s third comprehensive housing campaign designed to strategically meet Boston’s evolving housing needs. As described in the Leading the Way III Strategic Plan, Boston’s previous homelessness strategy focused on minimizing street homelessness through the provision of a robust emergency shelter system. The new plan focuses on efforts to provide permanent housing and other support in addition to shelter, relying on these five principles:

1. Prevention and Diversion of individuals or families at risk of homelessness through creation of an early warning system; strengthening homeless prevention networks; shelter diversion programs, and rental housing market stabilization initiatives.
2. Emergency Shelter and Outreach services for homeless adults and families, especially elderly and disabled adults with medical and behavioral health issues.
3. Housing Placement Services through which the City will help people exit homelessness and move more quickly into existing permanent housing with support.
4. New Housing Production as part of the City’s commitment to the creation of new housing that meets the needs of all homeless individuals.
5. Sustainable Permanent Housing in an effort to stabilize homeless individuals so that the cycle does not repeat itself.

HomeStart is a non-profit organization whose mission is to end homelessness in Greater Boston by assisting individuals in obtaining permanent housing and settling into the community, and by developing strategies to address systemic barriers to housing placement. The organization has placed over 3,500 homeless individuals and families into permanent housing with over 90% of those receiving post-placement stabilization services.

Contact:
Lucy Warsh
lwarsh.dnd (at) cityofboston (dot) gov