Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson this week announced $10 million in funding that aims to get chronically homeless persons who are addicted to alcohol off the streets and into a permanent residence.
A dozen pilot programs in 11 cities around the country are receiving two-year grants through HUD’s new “Housing for People Who Are Homeless and Addicted To Alcohol” program.
“As we continue to work toward ending chronic homelessness, there is no better place to devote our energies than to offer a helping hand to those who are the hardest to help,” said Jackson. “We must continue to seek creative solutions to house and serve those in the grips of alcoholism who perpetually call the streets or emergency shelters their home.”
The following communities are receiving grants under HUD’s program: Chattanooga, Tenn.; Chicago; Contra Costa County, Calif.; Denver; Jacksonville, Fla.; New York City (two grants); San Francisco; San Jose, Calif.; Santa Cruz, Calif.; and Santa Monica, Calif.
HUD’s new demonstration program was developed in close consultation with the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and is targeted to help individuals living on the streets for at least 365 days over the last five years and who also have a long-term addiction to alcohol. This initiative is supported by research that suggests as many as 150,000 persons experiencing chronic homelessness also often suffer from addiction to alcohol and tend to have the highest utilization of public facilities and services.
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