HUD released its last chunk of CARES Act funding to help with COVID-19 problems – $2.96B for communities with high homeless populations.

WASHINGTON – Twenty-two Florida counties and cities will receive $65,511,297 to help with homeless problems created by the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) final round of funding from the CARES Act, which Congress created to offer release as businesses shut down and many Americans found themselves unable to afford shelter.

The HUD funding nationwide is $2.96 billion in Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), according to HUD Secretary Ben Carson. It’s directed at the homeless and “individuals at risk of becoming homeless because of hardships such as job loss, wage reduction, or illness due to COVID-19.”

This funding is in addition to $1 billion of ESG grants announced earlier.

Carson says homelessness was already a problem, but the pandemic “left many without a home to isolate in or proper medical and healthcare resources to defend themselves against this invisible enemy.”

Congress provided $4 billion for HUD’s ESG program. HUD allocated $3.96 billion in ESG funding and $40 million is being used to provide technical assistance to build capacity in the communities that receive ESG funding.

Approved use of the funds

• More emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families

• The operation of emergency shelters – food, rent, security, maintenance, repair, fuel, equipment, insurance, utilities, furnishings and supplies necessary for operation

• Provide Hotel/Motel Vouchers for homeless families and individuals

• Provide essential services to people experiencing homelessness including childcare, education services, employment assistance, outpatient health services, legal services, mental health services, substance abuse treatment services and transportation.

• Prevention moves to help individuals from becoming homeless

Funding for Florida counties and cities under latest grant

• Hialeah – $2,698,307

• Miami – $6,132,699

• Orlando – $1,846,707

• St Petersburg – $2,902,139

• Tallahassee – $1,878,411

• Tampa – $3,009,506

• Broward County – $3,048,655

• Collier County – $2,476,642

• Jacksonville-Duval County – $6,011,963

• Hillsborough County – $6,054,897

• Lee County – $1,818,474

• Manatee County – $2,135,435

• Marion County – $1,550,489

• Miami-Dade County – $10,715,429

• Orange County – $5,016,437

• Palm Beach County – $5,830,483

• Pasco County – $3,810,934

• Pinellas County – $3,997,774

• Polk County – $2,054,711

• Sarasota County – $1,872,211

• Seminole County – $1,183,769

• Volusia County – $1,904,452

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