How much federal and state money goes to homelessness programs? How is it supposed to be spent? How is it distributed?
At the end of December 2022 I am beginning to collect references to funding. Not sure that every funding source is summarized in one place.
RI won a grant for a Youth Homeless Demonstration Project in 2021 of $3,584,649, The grant is being used to create a plan (completed in March 2022), housing, and support services. Planning funds were for one year; housing and support services are for two years, and can be renewed (plan p.46-47).
Consolidated Homelessness Fund Partnership for FY2022
The CHFP anticipates approximately $17,671,578 est. in funds for
- Emergency Shelter Operating, Essential Services and Shelter Renovations Projects.
- Street Outreach
- Rapid Rehousing and State Rental Assistance
- Diversion and Prevention Programs
- Homelessness Systems Projects that meet one or more goals of Opening Doors RI
Estimated Allocations
The CHFP anticipates the availability of federal and state funding from the following programs:
- City of Pawtucket, Emergency Solutions Grant Program ($145,622) est.
- City of Providence, Emergency Solutions Grant Program ($416,992) est.
- City of Providence, American Rescue Plan ($2,300,00) est.
- State of Rhode Island, Emergency Solutions Grant Program ($656,824) est.
- State of Rhode Island, Housing Resources Commission Homelessness Resources ($4,500,000) est. (subject to HRC approval)
- State of Rhode Island, Title XX Funds ($1,208,964) est.
- State of Rhode Island, ERA2 Funds ($6,000,000) est.
- State of Rhode Island, Fiscal Recovery Funds for Housing Stability ($1,500,00)
- Other sources of funds may become available (to be announced as they become available).
On August 18, 2021, HUD issued the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the FY 2021 CoC competition awards. RI received $10,405,306 for 37 projects.
May 26, 2022 - [excerpts from a press release] Governor McKee announced 6 awards totalling 1.5M:
These grants are part of the Governor’s Rhode Island Rebounds initiative and funded through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars and the state’s Consolidated Homeless Fund. These are the first round of projects awarded through the Consolidated Homeless Fund, which dedicated a record amount of up to $17 million to address homelessness and housing insecurity.
- RI Coalition to End Homelessness (RICH) – will receive $180,233 to organize and implement a comprehensive training program for RI’s continuum of care and for organizations serving the homeless. Training will focus on Housing First and best practices in delivering services to the homeless.
- Community Care Alliance (CCA) – will receive $441,143 to transition create a shelter with a focus on providing a safe space for LGBTQ+ persons experiencing homelessness. Case managers will work one on one with clients to complete a comprehensive assessment that will help connect to all the resources that they need.
- Blackstone Valley Advocacy Project (BVAC) – will receive $496,103 to use three residential suites for expanded shelter capacity (14 new shelter units). The program is designed to provide safety for families while providing comprehensive case management services to help families secure and maintain permanent housing.
- Sojourner House – will receive $78,271 for the RISE (Respect, Inclusion, Safety, and Empowerment) shelter for victims of abuse who are LGBTQ+ or identify as male, and are fleeing an abusive relationship or situation.
- Community Action Partnership of Providence (CAPP) – will receive $159,731 to prevent homelessness by expanding their financial literacy/resiliency training to clients identified through the Consolidated Homeless Fund Partnership. The financial literacy program will focus on household income and expenses to ensure participants are financially stable to enable them to remain in their homes.
- Amos House – will receive $144,066 for Amos House’s Diversion and Mitigation fund to ensure that clients have the resources they need to prevent or exit homelessness. Actions include connecting individuals with entitlement programs, emergency financial assistance, and any resources that result in the household retaining or regaining permanent housing, including access to Amos House’s Financial Opportunity Center, education programs, job training opportunities, and employment services.
These projects are being supported, in whole or in part, by State Fiscal Recovery Funds (federal award number SLFRP0136) awarded to Rhode Island by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
From slide deck (#29) for State of Homelessness presentation by Coalition to Prevent Homelessness, Nov 14, 2022: "$221 million for housing in State’s 2023 budget, including $35 million for efforts to prevent and end homelessness."
Pay for Success funding described in Call for Applications: Service Provider(s) for Rhode Island’s Pay for Success (PFS) Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Pilot Program.
"The endeavor is supported by State budget appropriations enacted in the FY 2022 State Budget not to exceed $1.5 million per fiscal year/$6 million in aggregate over five years. Per the terms of these appropriations, ~75 PFS PSH slots must be filled by Medicaid high utilizers; the remaining ~50 PFS PSH slots must be filled by individuals with high Department of Corrections (DOC) involvement and/or by those who are high utilizers of homeless services. The State budget language recognizes that there may be significant overlap between these three groups."
If you can elucidate the funding aspect of government homelessness services, email Sue Korte.
