The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded a grant for $556,106 to the Rockland County Office of Community Development for a new homeless housing program that will assist disabled individuals and families, currently living in emergency shelters or transitional housing units, move to permanent housing apartments.
Rockland County Excecutive C. Scott Vanderhoef said the grant is for 10 housing vouchers and extensive case management that will be provided by the Rockland County Office of Community Development, the Department of Social Services and the Legal Aid Society of Rockland, Inc.
“This funding provides critically needed emergency shelter, transitional housing and permanent support for individuals and families and is a significant part of a national strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness,” said Vanderhoef. “We are grateful to HUD for allowing us to provide the increased support that will help Rocklanders rebuild their lives.”
According to the latest data reported by more than 3,000 cities and counties throughout the U.S., homelessness declined 2.1-percent between 2010 and 2011 and a remarkable 12-percent among homeless veterans. HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan awarded nearly $201 million to support 731 new local homeless programs across the country. The Rockland County Office of Community Development was among those awarded.
HUD’s Continuum of Care grants provide permanent and transitional housing to homeless persons as well as services including job training, health care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment and child care. Continuum of Care grants are awarded competitively to local programs to meet the needs of their homeless clients. These grants fund a wide variety of programs from street outreach and assessment programs to transitional and permanent housing for homeless persons and families.
HUD announced in December 2011 the renewal awards for the Continuum of Care, with the Rockland County Office of Community Development receiving two awards. The first, $215,610 to assist 10 battered women and their children with housing rental assistance for a 24-month period, with extensive case management provided by the Office of Community Development, the Department of Social Services and the Legal Aid Society of Rockland, Inc. The second grant renewal, $74,000, is for technology and management of a Homeless Management Information System, a database homeless reporting system.
