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U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) announced today that the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has recently awarded $11,445,018 to local “Continuums of Care” (CoCs) across Alabama’s 7th Congressional District. HUD’s Continuum of Care (CoC) Program works with local non-profit providers and state and local governments (CoCs) to end homelessness, providing rapid rehousing and other resources to alleviate mental and physical trauma and encourage stability and independence.

“Housing is a basic human need and in this country should be a basic human right,” said Rep. Sewell. “I am pleased by HUD’s recent investment in securing housing and support for the 7th District’s homeless population, knowing that money will go a long way toward alleviating some of the extraordinary burdens they face on a daily basis. A home is more than just a shelter, and I will continue working to ensure that each and every constituent across the district has a warm bed to sleep in at night.”

One Roof, which received $8,944,355, provides services for Jefferson County (among others outside of the 7th District.) The funding will go toward safe havens, which provide housing and support for two primary at-risk populations: the severely mentally ill and the physically impaired.

“We are grateful for the almost nine million dollars that we have been awarded from HUD,” said Michelle Farley, Executive Director of One Roof. “This money goes toward defending our most vulnerable. Twenty years ago, many of the people we are serving would be institutionalized; today they are able to live in these safe havens with support. We know that this is the first announcement, and we are looking forward to the second.”

The Mid-Alabama Coalition for the Homeless, which received $1,176,724 in funding, provides services for Montgomery, Macon, Lowndes, Autauga, and Elmore Counties. The two main projects this funding will service are “Rapid Rehousing,” which provides assistance to people who are street or shelter homeless, in moving into affordable housing; and “Homelessness Prevention,” which provides assistance to people who are facing imminent eviction. The funding will also go toward supportive services for coordinated entry, which helps to determine the ranking of need for assistance; toward housing assistance for victims of domestic abuse; and toward housing assistance for people suffering a major mental health diagnosis.

“We’re pleased that HUD continues to provide funds to address the needs of the River Region’s homeless populations,” said Lydia Pickett, Executive Director of the Mid-Alabama Coalition for the Homeless. “All funds will be used to assist people in severe need. We’re elated that Congresswoman Sewell’s office supports our efforts to combat homelessness, and look forward to working together toward this shared goal. People wishing to access support should call 2-1-1.”

The Alabama Balance of State CoC (ARCH), which received $1,126,358 in funding, provides services for Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Pickens, Perry, Sumter, and Wilcox Counties (among others outside of the 7th District.) The Alabama Balance of State CoC (ARCH) is a collaboration of service providers and stakeholders working hand in hand to eradicate homelessness in Alabama. Funding will go toward expanding housing and support services, increasing planning capabilities and increasing aggregate data on homeless populations in rural Alabama.

“These competitive grant awards represent the confidence of HUD in our compassionate approach to homelessness, ” said Felicia Jackson, Executive Director of ARCH. “The collective effort on the part of our Continuum of Care community partners, housing developers, state, county and city leaders and our successful coordinated access system known as RA-CAS (Rural Alabama Coordinated Access System), have been instrumental in creating an effective system to end homelessness in rural Alabama by helping individuals and families obtain the supportive services and housing they need.”

The West Alabama Coalition for the Homeless (WACH), which received $197,581, provides services for Tuscaloosa County. Three sub-recipients will receive funding through the WACH: The City of Tuscaloosa, to continue to manage the Homelessness Management Information System; the Tuscaloosa Housing Authority, to continue to provide permanent and supportive housing opportunities; and the Salvation Army, to continue to operate a veteran transitional housing opportunity.

“WACH, a volunteer group, is proud to have made a successful application to HUD and the award helps to sustain the energy the completely volunteer group commits to coordinating this area’s efforts to respond to homelessness,” said Kimberly Montgomery, Administrator at the West Alabama Coalition for the Homeless.