Utah reaps $5.1 million for homeless

WASHINGTON — America's homeless essentially have hit a $1.27 billion federal-funding jackpot, with $5.1 million of it going to help those in Utah.

The Bush administration has announced the largest-ever grants for the homeless, to help groups operate emergency shelters and for programs to help end long-term homelessness for people who are mentally ill, disabled or addicted.

"Today's announcement is another example of the Bush administration's commitment to help homeless individuals and families move beyond a life on the streets," said Alphonso Jackson, acting secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

He added, "These grants renew our pledge to thousands of local programs who are on the front lines of helping house and serve our homeless neighbors."

Twenty government and private agencies in Utah earned a split of the money.

Seventeen were given "Continuum of Care" grants to provide permanent and transitional housing to the homeless. In addition, those grants help fund services such as job training, health care, mental-health counseling, substance abuse treatment and child care.

Groups receiving such grants included:

• The Housing Authority of Salt Lake City, $1.12 million;

• Davis Behavioral Health, $750,000;

• Provo City Housing Authority, $452,700;

• State Department of Economic and Community Development, $290,480;

• Erin Kimball Memorial Foundation, $294,315;

• Family Connection Center, $269,000;

• Community Action Services, $228,653,

• Salt Lake County Homeless Coordinating Council, $155,989;

• Salt Lake Community Action Program, $118,709;

• Golden Rule Board of Trustees, $115,419;

• Valley Mental Health, $114,118;

• Homeless Veterans Fellowship, $92,194;

• Mountain Community Housing Trust, $16,252;

• Food & Care Coalition, $55,125;

• Bear River Association of Governments, $48,383;

• Center for Women in Crisis, $16,252;

• Cedar City Housing Authority, $13,913.

Three entities also received grants to help with emergency shelters. The state of Utah received $587,354. Salt Lake City received $180,593. Salt Lake County received $110,982.

Nationally, grants went to more than 3,700 projects. Of those, 2,379 of them either target or exclusively serve those experiencing chronic homelessness.

More than 90 percent of all grants were awarded to nonprofit organizations that are dedicated to ending homelessness.

Jackson said this is the third straight year that funding for the homeless was increased to record levels.

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E-mail: leed@desnews.com