HUD awards $83 million to Illinois homeless shelters
By Stephanie Lulay slulay@stmedianetwork.com December 20, 2011 5:02PM
Updated: December 26, 2011 10:39PM
More than $700,000 in federal aid for the homeless is headed to help those in the Fox Valley, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development officials announced Tuesday.
HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan announced a $1.47 billion renewal in funding to more than 7,100 local homeless programs in the United States. About $83 million will go toward 400 Illinois shelters.
The funding is $62 million more than last year and the most homeless assistance ever awarded by HUD.
“Today’s grants will help agencies in Illinois meet critical needs of those who experience the crisis of homelessness as we work together to prevent and end homelessness throughout the Midwest,” said Antonio Riley, HUD’s Midwest regional administrator.
Aurora’s Hesed House homeless shelter will receive a total of $330,392; Lazarus House in St. Charles will receive $118,258; Kane County Homeless Management Information Services will receive $109,853; and Youth in Transition in Naperville will receive $202,584. The Larkin Center in Elgin will receive $300,575; the Ecker Center for Mental Health in Elgin will receive $338,232; and the Community Crisis Center in Elgin will receive $96,635.
The grants announced Tuesday provide permanent and transitional housing to the homeless, as well as services including job training, health care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment and child care.
