The state is awarding nearly $2.5 million in grants to help homeless Alabama residents and those who are in danger of becoming homeless.
The grants, which are being awarded by Gov. Kay Ivey, can be used to find immediate housing or to assist those who are struggling to keep their housing.
The Emergency Solutions Grant program, which provided the grants, support organizations in the state that provide shelter, legal and health services and financial education for families and individuals without a home.
The grant money can be used to assist those families with moving costs including rental and utility deposits.
“While many of us gather with family and friends this time of year, it’s important to remember that there are some Alabamians currently struggling to keep a roof over their heads and others who don’t have a home at all,” Ivey said in a statement. “I am pleased to award this funding to provide important aid to many families at a critical moment in their lives.”
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs will administer the grants, which were funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“The Emergency Solutions Grant program helps families dealing with very difficult times avoid homelessness and take important steps to becoming independent and self-sufficient,” said ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell. “ADECA is pleased to join with Governor Ivey in providing this vital assistance to local programs who help families in need.”
Fourteen governments and community agencies will administer the program locally and assess individual needs for those who request the assistance.
Individuals and families who would like the help can contact the local agencies directly or could be referred by a local shelter. Case managers will screen applicants for program eligibility.
Grant recipient and the areas served:
- $275,000 to the Alabama Rural Coalition for the Homeless (Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Butler, Chambers, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Cleburne, Coffee, Conecuh, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, Dallas, Escambia, Fayette, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Lamar, Lee, Macon, Marengo, Marshall, Monroe, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Walker, Washington and Wilcox counties)
- $275,000 to the city of Florence (Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Marion and Winston counties)
- $223,039 to 2nd Chance (domestic violence victims in Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah, Randolph and Talladega counties)
- $200,000 to Penelope House (Mobile city)
- $200,000 to the city of Birmingham (Birmingham)
- $250,000 to the city of Tuscaloosa (Tuscaloosa County)
- $275,000 to the city of Huntsville (Huntsville)
- $245,870 to YWCA of Central Alabama (victims of domestic violence in Blount, Jefferson, and St. Clair counties)
- $133,786 to the Shelby County Commission (Shelby County)
- $200,000 to Housing First (Baldwin and Mobile counties)
- $200,000 to The Salvation Army of Coastal Alabama (Baldwin and Mobile counties)
- $20,000 to The Marshall County Home Place (Marshall County)
