DOL, HUD Offer up to $13.5 Million in Grants to End Chronic Homelessness through Employment &Housing

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DOL, HUD Offer up to $13.5 Million in Grants to End Chronic Homelessness through Employment and Housing

7/18/03 10:44:00 AM

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To: National Desk

Contact: Michael J. Volpe of the U.S. Department of Labor, 202-693-7880

WASHINGTON, July 18 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Departments of Labor (DOL) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today they were jointly making up to $13.5 million available to help fulfill the Administration's goal of ending chronic homelessness among persons with disabilities.

The funding, which is designed to help people with disabilities who are chronically homeless achieve employment, permanent housing, and self-sufficiency, is being made available through a series of cooperative agreements and grants by the agencies. The joint announcement was published in the July 18, 2003 Federal Register.

"In keeping with the promise of President Bush's New Freedom Initiative and his goal of ending chronic homelessness, today's action will expand the delivery and implementation of 'customized employment' strategies for people with disabilities, so that they may live, work and fully participate in their communities," Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao said. "I applaud HUD's partnership with DOL as well as the input of the White House Interagency Council on Homelessness. Together, our efforts will bring a better way to help individuals with disabilities out of chronic homelessness."

HUD Secretary Mel Martinez said, "Today we take another step towards a day when persons living with disability, addiction or mental illness will no longer have to call the streets their home." He added "By providing a permanent home and a job to our most vulnerable neighbors, we can meet the Administration's goal of ending chronic homelessness in this country."

DOL's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), in cooperation with its Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and its Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS), is making available approximately $3.5 million to award up to four cooperative grant agreements and provide technical assistance under DOL and HUD's "Ending Chronic Homelessness through Employment and Housing." The agreements, which range from approximately $500,000 to $625,000, per award, are designed to increase and improve employment opportunities for persons with disabilities who are chronically homeless. In support of this DOL effort, HUD will additionally supplement each cooperative agreement with approximately $1-2 million per award, or up to $10 million.

Applications and eligibility information for this solicitation are available in the Federal Register notice, which can also be accessed through http://www.dol.gov/odep and http://www.hud.gov.

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