Federal funding of $1.25 million means that nonprofit agencies in Clark County will be able to continue housing and helping chronically homeless people here.
On Monday the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development announced a total of $1.81 billion for more than 8,400 homeless projects nationwide — most of them grant renewals for existing, ongoing projects. A total of $48.2 million was awarded in Washington state.
Andy Silver, the executive director of the Council for the Homeless in Clark County, and Bunk Moren, the executive director of Community Services NW, both said the money represents the federal government’s increasing emphasis on permanent, supportive housing for the chronically homeless. It provides for rental subsidies and — depending on the particular program — case management and other services for people who need them. Public dollars from other sources generally underwrite other sorts of homeless services, Silver said.
Silver said communities of sufficient size annually apply to HUD with a coordinated grant application that demonstrates how various agencies are working together as a “community of care.” In recent years Clark County has scored well on this, he said.
