HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The City of Huntsville said Thursday it will be distributing $364,000 across eight area agencies in an attempt to help those struggling with homelessness. The money comes from the Emergency Solutions Grant held by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.
Gov. Kay Ivey first announced the awarding of the money to Huntsville in December 2022.
Grant money can be used for the building and operation of transitional housing, emergency shelters, rental assistance, among other uses, as laid out by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which has funded the program since 1987.
The city says the following organizations will benefit from the funding:
- AshaKiran – $25,000
- Crisis Services of North Alabama – $30,000
- Community Action Partnership – $87,000
- Disabled American Veterans, Chapter #26 – $52,000
- First Stop – $75,000
- Family Services Center – $35,000
- New Futures – $35,000
- WellStone Behavioral Health – $25,000
The City of Florence was also among the recipients of ESG funds in Gov. Ivey's announcement; they will split $300,000 between Safeplace, Inc., the Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama and The Salvation Army.
Recently, Madison County District 6 council member Violet Edwards said the county was committing a further $65,000 to New Futures, Inc., Family Services Center of Huntsville, and Habitat for Humanity of the River Valley to aid in their associated homeless outreach and recovery programs.
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, approximately 424 people in the Huntsville/central North Alabama area are homeless on any given night. Statewide, the figure is about 3,434 people.