HUD grants awarded to help fight homelessness in North Alabama

MONTGOMERY — Several agencies in North Alabama were provided much-needed funding to help fight homelessness thanks to grants announced by Gov. Kay Ivey.

The funds from the Emergency Solutions Grant program will assist local governments and nonprofit agencies in providing housing and other related services to homeless people or people facing homelessness — including those who are victims of abuse and must leave their homes to protect themselves or their children.

“People become homeless for a number of reasons and often it is because of circumstances beyond their control,” Ivey said. “Emergency Solutions Grants serve as a lifeline for those who are victims of violence or face situations where they lose their homes.”

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, victim programs, economic development, water resource management, energy conservation and recreation.

“ADECA is pleased to join with Gov. Ivey and local governments and agencies in providing a helping hand to ensure Alabamians have a roof over their heads,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said.

Those awarded grants are:

• City of Florence – $410,000
  The city, working with numerous nonprofit agencies, will provide emergency shelter and rapid rehousing assistance to victims of domestic violence and others in dire need in Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Lawrence, Marion and Winston counties. Partners in the program include the Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama, MOM’s Inc., Safeplace Inc. and The Salvation Army of the Shoals.

• City of Huntsville – $400,000
  The city will provide street outreach, emergency shelter, homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing to homeless persons and victims of domestic violence in Limestone, Madison and Morgan counties. Assisting agencies include AshaKiran, Community Action Partnership, Crisis Services Center, Downtown Rescue Mission Family Services Center Inc., First Stop and New Futures.

• The Marshall County Home Place Inc. – $42,500
  The organization will provide emergency shelter to homeless families in Marshall County.

• The Link of Cullman County – $175,000
  The Cullman-based organization will serve homeless individuals and families in Cullman County.

• United Way of East Central Alabama – $400,000
  The United Way will provide emergency shelter and homelessness prevention for people in Calhoun, Cherokee, DeKalb and Etowah counties