The state of Alabama is awarding $2.65 million in grants to help fight homelessness, Gov. Kay Ivey announced Tuesday.
The money will assist government and nonprofit agencies in Alabama, Ivey said in a news release. The groups will help provide shelter, legal services, and health services for the homeless or at risk of being homeless.
The funds will come from the Emergency Solution Grant program which is made possible through grants from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.
Ivey said helping the homeless or at risk of homeless is the right thing to do.
“Helping others in need is the Alabama way, and our folks’ unrelenting desire to do so is one of the many things that make our state so special,” she said. “Unfortunately, homelessness is a very real issue facing our communities, and it’s on us as Alabamians to change that.
“I’m proud to allocate these funds toward ensuring those less fortunate have a safe, warm shelter to spend the holidays.”
ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said he was pleased with the grant being awarded.
“I join Governor Kay Ivey in commending these local governments and other agencies who are providing that helping hand to individuals and families who are going through rough times,” he said.
The grants will go to:
City of Florence
$300,000 to contract with Safeplace Inc., the Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama and the Salvation Army to offer homelessness prevention assistance, rapid re-housing and related services to residents in Colbert, Franklin, Marion, Lauderdale, Lawrence and Winston counties.
City of Huntsville
$400,000 to contract with AshaKiran Inc., Catholic Center of Concern, Community Action Partnership of Huntsville/Madison and Limestone Counties Inc., Crisis Services of North Alabama, Disabled American Veterans, Family Services Center, First Stop, North Alabama Coalition for the Homeless, New Futures Inc. and Wellstone Inc. to provide services in Huntsville.
Marshall County Home Place Inc. (Guntersville)
$31,500 to provide emergency shelter in Marshall County.
The Right Place for Housing and Support (Anniston)
$200,000 to provide street outreach, emergency shelter and housing assistance for persons in Calhoun, Cherokee, DeKalb and Etowah counties.
Second Chance (Anniston)
$200,000 to provide emergency shelter and rapid re-housing for domestic violence victims and their families in Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah, Randolph and Talladega counties.
The Link of Cullman County (City of Cullman)
$250,000 to provide emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, street outreach and rapid re-housing for victims in Cullman County.
YWCA of Central Alabama
$200,000 to provide emergency shelter, homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing for domestic violence victims in Blount, Jefferson and St. Clair counties.
Shelby County Commission
$150,148 to contract with Family Connections, SafeHouse of Shelby County Inc. and Shelby Emergency Assistance to provide emergency shelter, homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing for residents in Shelby County.
Montgomery Area Coalition for the Homeless
$350,000 to contract with Family Promise of Montgomery, Montgomery Area Family Violence Program (also known as the Family Sunshine Center), Friendship Mission Inc. and Hands On River Region to provide street outreach, homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing for persons in Autauga, Bullock, Elmore, Lowndes and Montgomery counties.
San Inc. (Turning Point, Tuscaloosa)
$100,000 to provide emergency services and rapid re-housing for victims of domestic violence in Bibb, Fayette, Hale, Lamar, Pickens and Tuscaloosa counties.
The Salvation Army (Mobile and Baldwin Counties)
$300,000 to provide emergency shelter for people in those two counties.
Penelope House Inc. (Mobile)
$300,000 to provide emergency shelter for people in those two counties.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
