awards funding to communities to assist homeless and disabled citizens
with housing. HUD has recently announced its 2010 Notice of Funding
Availability (NOFA) for project renewals and new projects.
The Continuum of Care Workgroup of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Homeless
Services Network is the organization that receives and reviews
applications locally. The group will meet at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct.
14, to discuss the funding opportunity and answer questions. The
public meeting will be held at Mecklenburg County Area Mental Health,
429 Billingsley Road, in Charlotte. Application information will be
available at the meeting.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg region received $3,541,881 in fiscal year
2010 for services to help house the homeless. An additional $250,000
has been made available over the next 5 years for new projects that
will provide permanent housing for the chronically homeless. Eligible
activities for this added funding include operating expenses and
leasing subsidies.
"Recent homeless counts indicate there are an estimated 6,500 homeless
persons in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community, with about 10 percent
who are considered chronically homeless," Peter Safir, homeless
services director, said. "In order to continue to help these folks in
our community, funding such as this is vitally important," he said.
Agencies currently funded by HUD, and therefore eligible to apply for
renewal funding, include the Salvation Army, Mecklenburg County, Hope
Haven, Inc., Community Link (Programs of Travelers Aid), and St.
Peter's Homes.
Renewal applications and new proposals for the bonus funding must be
submitted to the Continuum of Care workgroup by 5 p.m. on Thursday,
Oct. 28, 2010. The drop-off site address is Mecklenburg County Area
Mental Health, 429 Billingsley Road, in Charlotte .
