3/19/2009 - 2008 HUD Homeless Assistance Grant Award
02/19/2009 – February 19, 2009

2008 HUD Homeless Assistance Grant Award

WASHINGTON, DC – Hundreds of thousands of homeless individuals and families will find a stable home and be offered critically needed services as a result of nearly $1.6 billion in homeless assistance announced today by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan.

The grants announced today are being awarded through HUD’s Continuum of Care programs and will assist approximately 6,300 local homeless assistance projects throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For a local summery of the grant funding announced today, visit HUD’s website at www.hud.gov.

HUD’s homelessness grants have made a measurable difference in reducing long-term or chronic homelessness in America. Based on the Department’s latest homeless assessment, chronic homelessness has declined an average of 15 percent annually from 2005 to 2007. This decline is directly attributed to HUD’s homeless grants helping to create significantly more permanent housing for those who might otherwise be living on the streets.

Continuum of Care Grants provide permanent and transitional housing to homeless persons. In addition, Continuum grants fund important services including job training, health care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment and child care. More than $1.5 billion in Continuum of Care grants are awarded competitively to local programs to meet the needs of their homeless clients. Continuum grants fund a wide variety of programs from street outreach and assessment programs to transitional and permanent housing for homeless persons and families. Half of all Continuum funding awarded today, more than $783 million, will support new and existing programs that help to pay rent and provide permanent housing for disabled homeless individuals and their families.

The City of Portland was awarded $2,932,633to fund a variety of homeless programs, including permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, shelter day programs, emergency shelters, employment services, and subsidized housing vouchers for homeless individuals with disabilities.



City of Portland
HUD Continuum of Care

Grant Awards 2008


#1 State of Maine Department of Health & Human Services – Shelter Plus Care - Portland Chronic 6
Permanent Housing/NEW
This project is a new Shelter Plus Care Tenant-Based Assistance Program, which will provide two (2) housing subsidy slots for homeless individuals with disabilities. Housing subsidies will include one (1) efficiency and two (2) one-bedroom apartments. The project will serve three (3) homeless individuals with disabilities for a period of five years.
$96,480

#2 Avesta Housing – Logan Place
Permanent Housing/Renewal
A permanent “housing first” model program for individuals with disabilities who are considered chronically homeless. Preble Street, in partnership with Avesta Housing as owner of the property, operates a thirty (30) unit efficiency permanent supportive housing program which targets chronically homeless individuals. Support services are provided on-site through Preble Street.
$304,266

#3 Portland Collaborative, a.k.a. Homeless Assistance Collaborative
Supportive Services/Renewal
This project consists of homeless support services provided at Preble Street and the City of Portland Family Shelter.
$158,126

a. Preble Street Resource Center
A single site, multi-service day program and drop in center for the homeless individuals. A variety of on site support services are provided including case management, crisis intervention, housing placement and employment assistance. Funds are used to provide the center with a Case Manager and one Employment Counselor/Job Developer.

b. Preble Street Teen Center
Preble Street operates a drop-in teen center for homeless adolescents. Services provided on-site include: case management, counseling, life skills, homeless health clinic, and a soup kitchen. HUD funds are applied to partial salary for a Social Worker position.

c. Preble Street Women’s Shelter
Preble Street operates a 30 bed shelter for homeless women. Support services provided include: outreach, crisis intervention, case management, and life skills training. HUD funds for a Case Manager position.

d. City of Portland Health & Human Services Department – Family Shelter
The City operates the largest family shelter program in the State of Maine. The shelter provides 77 beds and a variety of on-site support services. Funds are applied towards case management services.

#4 Youth Alternatives, Inc. – MaineStay
Transitional Housing/Renewal
MaineStay provides transitional housing to homeless youth between the ages of 16 to 23 years old with serious emotional disorders or severe mental illness who need mental health and substance abuse treatment. MaineStay provides a safe, staffed setting in which youth can work on mental health and substance abuse issues while developing independent living skills. Funds are used for operating costs and outreach services for homeless youth.
$307,099

#5 Portland West, Inc. Bell Street Transitional Housing Project
Transitional Housing/Renewal
This is a transitional housing program for homeless families in Portland. This project has proven itself to be extremely successful in assisting families achieve stability and independence. This project is currently in its fifteenth year and has had over a 95% success rate. The staff of the City of Portland Health & Human Services, Social Services Division provides case management services for families residing in Bell Street Apartments.
$70,652

#6 Youth Alternatives, Inc. – Morrison Place (Formerly Randall Place)
Transitional Housing/Renewal
A dual diagnosis residential program for homeless adults with mental illness and substance abuse issues. This innovative transitional facility provides twelve residents an environment of comprehensive support in a home-like setting, professionally staffed twenty-four hours per day. Project funds are utilized to provide operating and support services.
$82,356

#7 Youth Alternatives – 22 Park Ave
Transitional Housing/Renewal
The Teen Parent transitional housing is located at 22 Park Avenue. The mission of this program is to encourage and promote the development of healthy, safe parenting of children while simultaneously supporting parents as they work toward economic self-sufficiency and long-term stable housing. HUD funds are used for supportive services and operating costs.
$ 126,936

#8 MAPS Shelter Services
Transitional Housing/Renewal
My Choice Shelter provides safe emergency and transitional housing to pregnant women experiencing crisis pregnancies. Supportive services and on-site counseling services are provided including parenting classes, and prenatal care and education. Follow-up is provided for one year following transitioning into permanent housing. HUD funds are used for staff and operating costs.
$71,355

#9 City of Portland Health & Human Services Department
Social Services Division/Preble Street – Employment Assistance
Supportive Services/Renewal
This project consists of a collaborative between the City of Portland Health & Human Services Department, Social Services Division and Preble Street. The purpose of this project is to provide employment training, counseling, job development, and job placement for homeless individuals. HUD funds are used to provide support services including staff salaries and employment related items for project participants.
$70,016

#10 City of Portland Health & Human Services Department, Social Services Division – Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
HMIS/Renewal
Funds will be used to operate a homeless management information system. The 2001 HUD Appropriations Act requires that every jurisdiction will report client level HMIS data to data. The City of Portland Health & Human Services Department serves as the applicant for the grant. The HMIS project is administered by Maine Housing.
$27,970

#11 City of Portland Health & Human Services Department, Social Services Division
Job Training Fund
Supportive Services/Renewal
This project is operated by the City’s Health & Human Services Department, Social Services Division. This project provides employment assessments, resume writing, job development and job placement services. HUD funds are used to provide financial stipends to participants of work experience/on-the-job training.
$15,443

#12 State of Maine Department of Health & Human Services in collaboration with Shalom House, Inc. - Shelter Plus Care
Rental subsidies are provided for homeless persons with disabilities in connection with support services from community agencies. HUD funds provide rental subsidies. Shelter Plus Care (S+C) is considered a permanent housing program.

Program Name # of Beds Award Amount
Shelter + Care City 08 145 $1,175,640
Shelter + Care 9-08 32 $232,164
Shelter + Care C13-08 27 $194,160
Total Award Amount: $2,932,633