February
21,
2007
By Jill Casey
/ The Daily Item
About $1.5 million in federal grant money will be funneled
into Lynn-based social services programs that provide emergency
shelter, transitional housing and permanent support to
individuals and families as part of a $57.4 million Federal
Housing and Urban Development grant package announced this
week.
Since 2001, HUD has awarded close to $9 billion in funding
to state and local communities to lead homeless persons
away from a life on the streets into permanent housing.
Serving People In Need (SPIN), a downtown Lynn not-for-profit
organization established in 1988 to address the issues
surrounding low income and homelessness issues, will receive
close to $549,000 in Continuum for Care grants for various
services they provide.
The Lynn Housing Authority will receive $757,771 in funding.
These grants are designated to assist in the operation
of emergency shelters and to fund related social service
and homeless prevention grants. The funds may also be used
to support emergency shelters, transitional housing and
support services.
The local grant package also included $29,383 for the
Lynn YMCA; $86,853 for Project Cope, Inc.; and $12,561
for Housing Works, Inc.
Marie Silva, director of housing for Project Cope, said
HUD grants help their agency to continue to operate and
provide services to a specific population in Lynn.
“(HUD) helps us provide safe affordable housing
for the homeless and disabled individuals. In addition,
Project Cope also provides support and teaches people to
live independently,” she said.
According to recent government research, the chronic homelessness
population utilizes more than half of all emergency shelter
resources designed to assist the entire spectrum of persons
in need, including those in transition.
“These grants will support local programs that are
on the front lines of helping those who might otherwise
be living on the streets,” said U.S. Housing and
Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson in a written
statement. “Whether it’s a single man living
with a mental illness or a family struggling to give their
children a roof over their heads, this funding is quite
literally saving their lives.”
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