Bloomberg News reports that with the evictions and the rents at an all-time rise and still rising across the country, the aspect of homelessness is haunting an increasing number of households in the United States.
A new Federal fund aims to bolster those households that are the most vulnerable and simultaneously make the local authorities talk to them. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development, on August 24th, detailed housing vouchers of different categories for people sleeping outdoors or in their vehicles or ones that have chances of facing severe homelessness. The so-called “stability” vouchers will provide permanent supportive housing for households that do not have shelter.
Those communities that are first in the line for the stability vouchers worth $43 million fund are the ones that can demonstrate that their homeless authorities and public housing agencies are working in tandem to coordinate relief measures.
It has been observed that the crisis is acute, particularly on the West Coast. Due to the pandemic, there have been homeless encampments across the country. The local leaders respond with counterproductive and expensive sweeps to clear out the tent cities.
The new vouchers are following the announcement of HUD, in June, for about $322 million in grants for the Communities of Care, the regional and local planning bodies coordinating services for the homeless people. The notice of funding opportunity referred to as a NOFO in federal parlance, has asked these CoCs to show how there could be curbing of rural and unsheltered homelessness without having to adopt punitive strategies. HUD has outlined several factors for the applicants to consider, and a few among them are administering vouchers and housing aid and engagement with the PHAs or the public housing agencies.
The agencies responsible for social care in the United States do not always work well in tandem or fail to work together, reports Bloomberg news. The officials of the Federal Housing also sought permission and flexibility from Congress regarding the administration of the new vouchers, namely, waivers for the eligibility screening and limits of payments that will apply to the normal housing vouchers.
The $43 million fund assigned is adequate for providing permanent housing for as many as 4000 households. It is not a significant figure, given the requirement. Instead of sprinkling the amount across the country, every housing agency will only receive a meager amount, and the housing agencies decided that it is best to link the vouchers to the larger pool of grants for rural homeless and unsheltered. Doing so will make it easier for the Community of Care to connect with the local PHAs, and vice versa.
