Rockland Agency Receives Almost $73,000 To Combat Homelessness

The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) announced it awarded $72,798 to the Legal Aid Society of Rockland County, Inc. to help prevent homelessness and help those in crisis find stable housing in the county. The is one of the 67 organizations statewide selected to receive $15.7 million in funding through OTDA's Solutions to End Homelessness Program (STEHP).

Eight organizations in the Mid-Hudson Valley will receive a total of $1.6 million. Three of the eight funding awards are for the renewal of existing projects. The Legal Aid Society is a new program recipient.

"STEHP is designed to reduce homelessness by providing prevention services to avoid shelter placements and rapid re-housing services for those who have already sought shelter," said OTDA Executive Deputy Commissioner Elizabeth Berlin. "This program, combined with our efforts to provide supportive housing to those who are already homeless, reflects OTDA's strong commitment to a comprehensive approach to reducing homelessness in New York State. OTDA's collaboration with federal and local partners, including local homeless coordinating bodies, further strengthens our response."

The goal of STEHP is to help individuals and families remain in or obtain permanent housing, assist them with supportive services during their experience of homelessness, or the eviction process, and assist in achieving housing stabilization. The range of activities funded under the STEHP awards includes: maintaining and improving the quality of emergency and transitional shelters and drop-in centers for homeless individuals and families: assisting in meeting the costs of operating such programs; providing comprehensive supportive services aimed at housing stabilization; providing rapid re-housing services (obtaining a permanent living situation); and providing eviction prevention assistance to individuals and families.

As part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's focus on streamlining State government in order to achieve measurable outcomes, beginning with the 2011-12 fiscal year enacted budget, four existing homelessness prevention programs (the Homelessness Intervention Program, the Supplemental Homelessness Intervention Program, the Homelessness Prevention Program, and the Emergency Solutions Grant Program) were combined into one homelessness prevention and crisis intervention program, STEHP.

The other Mid-Hudson Valley organizations that received funding included four in Westchester County, and one each in Orange, Dutchess and Ulster counties.