FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2007
CONTACTS:
Jean Chicoine, Nebraska Homeless Assistance Program, 402-471-9644
Jean.chicoine@dhhs.ne.gov
Leah Bucco-White, Communications and Legislative Services, 402-471-9356
Leah.buccowhite@dhhs.ne.govHHS Awards Over Three Million in Nebraska Homeless Assistance Funds and Special Project Grants
Note: Sound bites on this topic are available at:
http://www.hhss.ne.gov/audio/Lincoln – The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces grant awards of almost $3.3 million to community programs that help homeless Nebraskans.
"These funds allow us to provide a helping hand to community organizations that provide a safe haven for some of Nebraska’s most vulnerable people," said Scot Adams, director of HHS.
Jean Chicoine, HHS program specialist said, "Approximately 80 percent of homeless people and families are displaced because of a natural disaster or financial burdens. They’re homeless for a short period of time and generally don’t become homeless again, but they need somewhere to go to get back on track."
Ten agencies received special project funding this year to replace aging buildings with new ones or renovate existing facilities. Sixty-six agencies received renewal awards from the Nebraska Homeless Assistance Program funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) federal
Emergency Shelter Grant Program (ESGP) and the state’s Homeless Shelter Assistance Trust Fund (HSATF). Funding for the special project awards are from HSATF.
Grant awards listed below include the ESGP funds awarded by HUD directly to Omaha (a detailed list of specific awards and grants follows the release):
Panhandle Region $180,909 North Central Region $285,799 Southwest Region $271,163 Southeast Region $486,511 Northeast Region $376,869 Lincoln $395,571 Omaha $793,990 NAF-Statewide organization $11,000 For more information on Nebraska’s Homeless Assistance Program go to: http://www.hhss.ne.gov and search for "homeless."
For further information on 2007 Nebraska Homeless Assistance Program Awards go to: http://www.hhss.ne.gov/fia/nhap/docs/NHAP-ProgramAwards07.pdf
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