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It is part of a plan to allocate a total of $2.96 billion in Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) to communities across the country. It is in addition to the $1 billion dollar in those grants that were announced in April. Springfield was awarded about $561,000 during the first round of those grants, according to HUD.
The money is part of the CARES act that was passed by congress and signed into law by President Trump in March.
“Homelessness was a major issue in some cities across our Nation long before this pandemic occurred, and unfortunately the dire living conditions of our most vulnerable Americans left many without a home to isolate in or proper medical and healthcare resources to defend themselves against this invisible enemy,” said Ben Carson, the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
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In all, congress has provided $4 billion for HUD’s ESG program designed to help local governments and HUD has allocated a total of $3.96 billion in ESG funding, according to the news release.
Funding can be used to provide more emergency shelters for those that are homeless, operate emergency shelters, provide hotel/motel vouchers and support programs that aim to provide essential services as well as prevent homelessness.