December 22, 2014
Faith-Based and Community Organizations: Partnering in the Fight Against Homelessness
This holiday season, faith and community organizations all across our country are working to help some of the least fortunate among us – the homeless.These organizations play an integral role in combatting homelessness
As these organizations carry out this vital mission on the ground, HUD’s Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships stands ready to help. HUD CFBNP serves as a resource center for secular and faith-based non-profit organizations seeking to partner with HUD to address the housing and community development needs of the neighborhoods in which they operate. The Center builds partnerships and serves as a liaison between the grassroots and federal government, ensuring that groups have the latest information about HUD opportunities and programs as well as other federal resources available to their communities. The Center also convenes outside partners, practitioners and organizations from the non-profit and faith communities along with policy makers and government officials to more effectively identify and meet the needs of some of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.
As part of its outreach about HUD’s homelessness programs, HUD CFBNP recently conducted a conference call, “Demystifying HUD’s Homelessness Programs,” to connect faith-based and community organizations with experts on funding programs. The Center also conducts its signature workshop, “Capacity-Building Training for Emerging Organizations,” to help non-profit organizations seek grants and understand the Federal funding process so that they are better able to leverage program dollars designated to serve this particular population in communities around the country.
HUD Programs Combatting Homelessness
HUD’s Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAPS) administers many programs combatting homelessness in the United States. The Continuum of Care (CoC) program allows local organizations to come together to plan and submit applications for funding to provide an integrated set of services to clients experiencing homelessness, including permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, transitional housing, and other services.
Beyond seeking funding, organizations can engage more fully on a local level by working with local planners by taking part in the annual Point-in-Time survey of homelessness, or surveying the scope of services available to clients in their area. Organizations can also review Opening Doors, the first comprehensive Government strategy to prevent and end homelessness. Organizations looking to learn about local opportunities for funding or collaborate more closely with their local Continuum of Care can find their CoC information here.
HUD also administers the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program which provides funding for states and local jurisdictions to serve the homeless living on the street. Grant funds may also be used to improve the number and quality of emergency shelters, operate shelters, fund rapid rehousing efforts, and fund prevention efforts. The ESG program is a formula grant program. States and local jurisdictions receive funding based on population, income and other factors determined by law.
Organizations can find ESG recipients in their area (typically at a city or state level) by clicking here.
Finally, the Rural Housing Stability Assistance Program (RHSP) provides funding to assist homeless individuals living in rural communities. Grant dollars may be used to construct or acquire facilities for a homeless shelter, and assist homeless individuals with rental or utility costs as well as other services. For more information on this program, see this link.
Faith-based and community organizations looking to get more involved in their Continuum of Care can attend CoC meetings, participate in CoC workgroups such as the Coordinated Assessment, and partner with other homeless organizations to advocate for homelessness prevention or housing stabilization programs. Organizations may stay up-to-date on CoC resources and funding by visiting this link.
Readers can learn more about all of HUD’s homelessness-assistance programs here, and can contact HUD’s Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at partnerships@hud.gov. For contact information on the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and other Partnership Centers, visit this link.
- See more at: http://blog.hud.gov/index.php/2014/12/22/faith-based-and-community-organizations-partnering-in-the-fight-against-homelessness/#sthash.wOJNGR4j.dpuf
