Senator Collins Announces More Than $670,000 for Organizations that Assist Homeless Individuals in Maine
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded a total of $671,345 to Kennebec Behavioral Health in Waterville, Maine State Housing Authority in Augusta, New Beginning Inc. in Lewiston, OHI in Bangor, and Tedford Housing in Brunswick. This funding was awarded through HUD's Continuum of Care (CoC) Program. Senator Collins announced the first round of CoC funding for several Maine service providers and agencies earlier this year.
“Individuals who are homeless are among those who are the most vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Senator Collins. “Throughout our state, service providers and agencies are dedicated to providing these Mainers with resources to promote their health, independence, and overall wellbeing. As the Chairman of the Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, I have continuously championed funding for this important grant program, and I will continue to work to prevent and end homelessness.”
The funding will be allocated as follows:
- Kennebec Behavioral Health will receive $43,479.
- Maine State Housing Authority will receive $409,983.
- New Beginnings Inc. will receive $164,339.
- OHI will receive $37,261.
- Tedford Housing will receive $16,283.
As the Chairman of the Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Collins worked to secure more than $2.8 billion in the fiscal year (FY) 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill to help communities design and implement local solutions to end homelessness. This legislation was signed into law last year.
The CoC Program is designed to promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; to provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, States, and local governments to quickly re-house homeless individuals, families, persons fleeing domestic violence, and youth while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused by homelessness; to promote access to and effective utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families; and to optimize self-sufficiency among those experiencing homelessness.
