HUD NEWS

HUD PROVIDES NEW JERSEY OVER $57 MILLION IN CARES ACT FUNDING FOR HOMELESS POPULATIONS AMID CORONAVIRUS RECOVERY 

$4 Billion total in Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) nationally targeted toward communities with high homeless populations or individuals at risk of becoming homeless

 Union County – $1,990,737

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson today announced the allocation of $2.96 billion in Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) funding to support homeless Americans and individuals at risk of becoming homeless because of hardships such as job loss, wage reduction, or illness due to COVID-19. This funding is in addition to $1 billion of ESG grants announced within a week of President Trump signing the CARES Act. View state and territory funding allocations here.  

“Homelessness was a major issue in some cities across our Nation long before this pandemic occurred, and unfortunately the dire living conditions of our most vulnerable Americans left many without a home to isolate in or proper medical and healthcare resources to defend themselves against this invisible enemy,” said Secretary Carson. “As we continued to monitor the effects of COVID-19 in at risk communities, the Department and our partners worked quickly to respond to outbreaks and minimize the spread from hotspots to other locations. This increased funding to help provide for our homeless will make a difference now as we combat the coronavirus and inform long-term, innovative solutions for addressing homelessness in the future.”

“This Administration is continuing its swift action against COVID-19 in order to protect our most vulnerable Americans by allocating an unprecedented $12 billion in CARES Act funding.  Today, Secretary Carson announced nearly $3 billion in Emergency Solutions Grants to communities across this nation focusing on supporting homeless Americans and individuals at risk of being homeless,” said Lynne Patton, HUD Regional Administrator for New York and New Jersey.  “The Garden State, the joint-epicenter of this deadly virus, will receive over $57 million in this round of funding.  This makes over $211 million available to New Jersey, to date, to fight this invisible enemy.”

Congress has provided $4 billion for HUD’s ESG program for local governments to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus among individuals and families who are homeless, receiving homeless assistance, or are at risk of becoming homeless. In total, HUD has allocated $3.96 billion in ESG funding to impacted communities in every U.S. State and territory, and the remainder $40 million is being utilized to provide technical assistance to build capacity of grantees in those communities receiving ESG funding.

The $2.96 billion in funding allocated today can be used to: 

• Make more emergency shelters available for homeless individuals and families.
• Operate emergency shelters by providing food, rent, security, maintenance, repair, fuel, equipment, insurance, utilities, furnishings, and supplies necessary for their operation.
• Provide Hotel/Motel Vouchers for homeless families and individuals.
• Provide essential services to people experiencing homelessness including childcare, education services, employment assistance, outpatient health services, legal services, mental health services, substance abuse treatment services, and transportation.
• Prevent individuals from becoming homeless and rapidly rehouse homeless individuals.

NJ ESG Totals:

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HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. More information about HUD and its programs is available online at www.hud.gov and www.espanol.hud.gov

For information about Opportunity Zones visit www.OpportuintyZones.gov  

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Visit www.HUD.gov/coronavirus for resources related to COVID-19