Feds: $3.5 million awarded to homeless programs

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — More than two dozen homeless programs in Alaska have won renewed federal funding totaling $3.5 million to keep people off the streets in 2012.

Officials with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development say the money will be paid as quickly as possible.

HUD spokesman Lee Jones says the agency also is reviewing applications for new projects that could receive funding early next year.

The largest of the 25 grants for Alaska programs totals more than $646,000 for Anchorage Community Mental Health Services.

John Sperbeck, a mental health services manager, says those funds will go toward housing rental subsidies and services behavior-health services.

Suzi Pearson, chair of the Alaska Coalition on Housing and Homelessness, says a statewide survey in January counted 6,460 homeless people.