State Awards Homelessness Prevention Funds to Broome County

More Than $550,000 Going to Help Those in Need

ALBANY, NY (10/21/2009)(readMedia)-- The State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) today announced that it has awarded a homelessness prevention grant of more than $550,000 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 to Broome County. The funding comes through the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) and is in addition to nearly $25 million in HPRP grants announced by OTDA in late August.

OTDA awarded $561,301 to the Broome County Department of Social Services. These funds had originally been designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Town of Union, but reverted to New York State after the town was unable to fulfill the requirements of receiving the grant.

"We are pleased that we have been able to ensure that this funding remains in Broome County and that the services needed there will be provided," said Kristin Proud, Deputy Secretary for Human Services, Technology and Operations, who is currently overseeing OTDA. "This funding will be used to help individuals and families secure and maintain safe, stable housing, which can help them begin on a path to economic security."

"A lot of people in Broome County have lost their jobs over the last year. Many of them are really struggling to make ends meet," said Art Johnson, Broome County Social Services Commissioner. "This funding will make a big difference in their lives. I appreciate the state's efforts to help us secure this funding."

The grant announced today is part of $1.5 billion made available through ARRA for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Homelessness Prevention Fund, including a total of $141.2 million awarded to New York State communities. Most of the state's larger municipalities received this funding directly from the federal government. In August, OTDA awarded the remaining $24.9 million to 25 agencies around the state.

The HPRP funds are being used to provide services to New York families at-risk of homelessness while helping those already homeless to find stable housing. Services include short- and medium-term rental assistance, legal services, case management, locating available housing and financial counseling.

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