Summary

Federal homeless assistance funds totaling more than $21.2 million have been awarded to the City of Seattle and King County for 2013-2014, making it possible to continue to provide a range of housing and supportive services for individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Story

Federal homeless assistance funds totaling more than $21.2 million have been awarded to the City of Seattle and King County for 2013-2014, making it possible to continue to provide a range of housing and supportive services for individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and King County Executive Dow Constantine announced the renewal grants on March 20, 2013, following the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announcement of $1.5 billion awarded nationwide.

“These annual grants are essential for people who are working to rebuild their lives and establish safe and stable housing,” said Mayor McGinn, who sits on the Committee to End Homelessness Governing Board. “Federal funds are especially important in our efforts to preserve basic human services in Seattle and throughout the region.”

“Renewal of this critical federal funding helps break the cycle of homelessness and helps thousands of people stay off the streets,” said Executive Constantine, co-chair of the Committee to End Homelessness Governing Board.

Community-based organizations joined with the City of Seattle and King County in submitting the annual joint application for McKinney Continuum of Care funding that supports local governments in providing homeless housing and supportive services. The funding is crucial to the ongoing work of the Committee to End Homelessness and the implementation of the regional Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness.

The $21.2 million award received by the Seattle/King County Continuum of Care supports 66 community-based projects for a total of 1,865 units of housing: 747 units of transitional housing and 1,118 units of permanent housing for homeless people with disabilities. The total includes funding for two Safe Haven facilities that offer supportive housing for homeless adults with severe mental illness. Also renewed is funding for the Safe Harbors Homeless Management Information System, which collects data on services provided to homeless people in programs throughout King County. 

The chart below provides detail on the 2013-2014 Homeless Assistance Awards.

This award is the first part of a two-part announcement process. An announcement in April 2013 is expected from HUD for the remaining funding including possible new project awards.

For more information on the programs and projects funded by the McKinney Continuum of Care grant funds, please call Eileen Denham, City of Seattle McKinney Programs Coordinator, 206-684-0915 or Katy Miller, King County Housing and Community Development Program, 206-263-9090.