Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced on Tuesday that she has awarded $2.65 million in grant money to help Alabamians who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless obtain shelter and other related services.
“Helping others in need is the Alabama way, and our folks’ unrelenting desire to do so is one of the many things that makes our state so special,” said Governor Ivey. “Unfortunately, homelessness is a very real issue facing our communities, and it’s on us as Alabamians to change that. I’m proud to allocate these funds towards ensuring those less fortunate have a safe, warm shelter to spend the holidays.”
The funds come from federal dollars through the Emergency Solutions Grants program. The money will assist twelve governments and nonprofit organizations in providing shelter, legal and health services, and other assistance to help individuals and families who face losing their homes or are already homeless.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. ADECA administers an array of programs supporting law enforcement and traffic safety, economic development, energy conservation, water resource management, and recreation development.
“Emergency Solutions Grants are intended to help people with immediate and often temporary needs,” said ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell. “I join Governor Ivey in commending these local governments and other agencies who are providing that helping hand to individuals and families who are going through rough times.”
The City of Florence will receive $300,000 to contract with Safeplace Inc., the Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama, and the Salvation Army to offer homelessness prevention assistance, rapid re-housing, and related services to residents in Colbert, Franklin, Marion, Lauderdale, Lawrence and Winston counties.
The City of Huntsville was $400,000 to contract with AshaKiran Inc., Catholic Center of Concern, Community Action Partnership of Huntsville/Madison and Limestone Counties Inc., Crisis Services of North Alabama, Disabled American Veterans, Family Services Center, First Stop, North Alabama Coalition for the Homeless, New Futures Inc. and Wellstone Inc. to provide services in Huntsville.
Marshall County Home Place Inc. in Guntersville will receive $31,500 to provide emergency shelter in Marshall County.
The Right Place for Housing and Support in Anniston was awarded $200,000 to provide street outreach, emergency shelter, and housing assistance for persons in Calhoun, Cherokee, DeKalb, and Etowah counties.
Second Chance in Anniston will receive $200,000 to provide emergency shelter and rapid re-housing for domestic violence victims and their families in Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah, Randolph, and Talladega counties.
The Link of Cullman County will receive $250,000 to provide emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, street outreach, and rapid re-housing for victims in Cullman County.
YWCA of Central Alabama in Birmingham was awarded $200,000 to provide emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, and rapid re-housing for domestic violence victims in Blount, Jefferson, and St. Clair counties.
The Shelby County Commission was awarded $150,148 to contract with Family Connections, SafeHouse of Shelby County Inc., and Shelby Emergency Assistance to provide emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, and rapid re-housing for residents in Shelby County.
The Montgomery Area Coalition for the Homeless (also known as the Mid-Alabama Coalition for the Homeless) received an award of $350,000 to contract with Family Promise of Montgomery, Montgomery Area Family Violence Program (also known as the Family Sunshine Center), Friendship Mission Inc. and Hands On River Region to provide street outreach, homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing for persons in Autauga, Bullock, Elmore, Lowndes and Montgomery counties.
SAN Inc. (the Turning Point in Tuscaloosa) was awarded $100,000 to provide emergency services and rapid re-housing for victims of domestic violence in Bibb, Fayette, Hale, Lamar, Pickens, and Tuscaloosa counties.
The Salvation Army in Mobile and Baldwin counties was awarded a $300,000 grant to provide emergency shelter for people in those two counties.
Penelope House Inc. in Mobile received $177,000 to provide emergency shelter for domestic violence victims in Mobile County.
Kay Ivey is one of the most popular governors in the nation.
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