The number of people served in Vermont’s shelters rose by 8% during state fiscal year 2010, when compared to 2009, according to Emergency Shelter Grant program figures released this month by Vermont’s Office of Economic Opportunity.
This was the largest jump of the decade, up to a total of 3,834 people, 22% of whom were children.
The number of homeless families in the U.S. rose for the second year in a row, according to The 2009 Annual Assessment Report to Congress recently completed by HUD.
This rise shows the impact of the economic downturn “on the housing stability of low-income and vulnerable Americans,” the report explains.
U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced nearly $190 million in new grants to assist hundreds of local homeless assistance programs across the country.
The Vermont State Housing Authority announced the Vermont Balance of State Continuum of Care (CoC) was awarded $120,780 in homeless assistance as part of an annual competition from the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The award provides housing subsidies to eligible participants of a new Shelter Plus Care: Sponsor-Based Program.
Fifteen homeless Vermont veterans will receive permanent housing assistance as part of a $58.6 million U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rental assistance program announced last week.
The Huffington Post yesterday published a piece by Deborah De Santis, President/CEO of the Corporation for Supportive Housing, titled "Honoring our Veterans can Begin With Housing."
A study released yesterday by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) concludes government pays more to provide the homeless with emergency shelter than it would to provide permanent rental housing.
"We are paying for a form of housing that is largely substandard, and we are paying as much, if not more, than standard conventional housing," according to University of Pennsylvania professor Dennis Culhane, quoted in USA Today.
Yesterday the National Alliance to End Homelessness published its official recommendations to the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and HUD to end homelessness.
Here are some key points:
For veterans:
WCAX-TV Channel 3 aired a piece a couple days ago about Brattleboro's First Baptist Church, which is selling its Tiffany stained glass window to help the needy.
Melinda Bussino of the Brattleboro Drop-in Center appears in the story.
Vermont will hold its annual homeless memorial vigil Jan. 13 at noon on the Statehouse steps in Montpelier.