Ivey provides grants to help fight homelessness in North Alabama

MONTGOMERY — The cities of Florence and Huntsville, along with Marshall County Home Place are among several state organizations that have been awarded more than $2.5 million by Gov. Kay Ivey. The money is to assist Alabamians who are homeless or close to becoming homeless.

The funds from the Emergency Solutions Grants program will assist local governments and nonprofit agencies to provide housing and other related services to homeless people or people facing homelessness.

“Emergency Solutions Grants are a measure to help people who for a number of reasons find themselves in need of a safe shelter,” Ivey said. “I commend these governments and organizations for assisting these individuals and families by ensuring they have secure housing during a time of great need.”

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.

“With help from this grant program, local governments and nonprofits have been able to step in to help people in Alabama with emergency housing needs,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in commending the work those organizations do to help people who are going through rough times.”

The local grants go to:

• City of Florence – $329,060. The city will assist the homeless and those who are near homelessness in Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Marion and Winston counties through the Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama, The Salvation Army of the Shoals and MOM’s Inc.
• City of Huntsville – $400,000. Huntsville will contract with several groups to provide housing and shelter needs for people in Limestone, Madison and Morgan counties. The contracted groups are AshaKiran, Community Action Partnership, Crisis Services of North Alabama, Disabled American Veterans, Family Services Center Inc. First Stop, Hands Across Decatur, North Alabama Coalition for the Homeless, New Futures and The Salvation Army.
• Marshall County Home Place Inc. (Guntersville) – $36,000. The organization will provide emergency shelter in Marshall County.