BOISE—Homeless in Idaho will continue to have access to essential services thanks to a grant distributed by Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA). IHFA received $2.54 million in Continuum of Care grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to continue providing housing and services for homeless people across Idaho. Idaho’s award is part of the $1.47 billion in homeless assistance HUD awarded nationally.

 

In addition, Home Partnership Foundation, created by IHFA, will match up to 75 percent of the upfront matching funds service providers need to present in order to receive the grants from HUD. Service providers are required by HUD to present 25 percent matching funds in order to secure their funding; the Foundation’s match helps maximize the federal grants that come to Idaho and will be available to cover expenses that are not funded by HUD. Last year the Foundation awarded over $400,000 in grants.

 

The grants awarded ensure that existing housing and service programs are able to continue offering their services. Continuum of Care programs include services such as job training, health care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, and child care. In addition to those services, last year over 132,000 bed nights were serviced to homeless individuals in Idaho through permanent and transitional housing.

 

“There is no other funding out there for transitional housing and it is the most successful program we have to help people move from homeless to independent living,” said Captain John Stennett, Ada County commanding officer for the Treasure Valley Salvation Army. “The funds make a huge difference to us because, thanks to them, we can have the program and provide help to local families; hundreds of people have made the transition from homeless to independent living in the last few years,” he said.

 

Idaho’s Continuum of Care award includes funding for the Supportive Housing Program (SHP), the Shelter Plus Care (S+C) program, and the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) program. SHP promotes supportive housing and services by helping homeless persons transition from homelessness to living as independently as possible. The S+C program links rental assistance with supportive services and more effectively helps homeless individuals with disabilities. The HMIS is critical in helping agencies track outcomes of their work and how many people they have served, which is key to secure funding from HUD.

 

IHFA will administer funds to the following organizations across Idaho:

Supportive Housing Program (SHP)

North Idaho

Bonner County Homeless Task Force, Sandpoint. $111,395 for Blue Haven, which provides up to two years transitional housing for homeless families; and $72,715 for Trestle Creek, which provides up to two years of transitional housing for homeless families and individuals.
New Bridges Community Church, Lewiston – $42,315 for Home at Last, to provide housing for up to two years for homeless families in Lewiston.
St. Vincent de Paul, Coeur d’Alene – $92,180 for Angel Arms, which provides permanent housing for chronically homeless single individuals; $179,886 for Coeur d’Alene Transitional Housing, which provides up to two years of housing for homeless families; and $39,797 for KAMPS, which provides up to two years of transitional housing for homeless families.
Sojourner’s Alliance, Moscow – $78,236 for Moscow Transitional Housing, which provides up to two years of housing for homeless families or individuals; and $98,524 for Project Warmth, which provides permanent housing for chronically homeless families, and homeless single individuals.
YWCA, Lewiston – $54,854 for Lewiston Transitional Housing, which provides housing for up to two years for homeless families.
IHFA, Lewiston – $63,559 for Clearwater, which provides permanent housing for chronically homeless single individuals.
Southwestern Idaho

IDAHO, Inc., Caldwell – $125,632 for Arbor Cove, which provides permanent housing for disabled homeless single individuals and families; and $76,135 for Canyon County Transitional Housing, which provides housing for up to two years for homeless families and individuals.
The Salvation Army, Nampa – $53,450 for Nearly Home, which provides transitional housing for up to two years to homeless families, and individuals.
Valley Crisis Center, Nampa – $78,049 for Your Way Home, which provides transitional housing for up to two years for homeless families.
Southcentral Idaho

CORE, Inc., Twin Falls – $23,390 for CORE Lodge, which provides permanent housing for chronically homeless single individuals in Twin Falls.
SCCAP, Twin Falls – $47,370 for Magic Valley Transitional Housing, which provides housing for up to two years for homeless families in Twin Falls.
Southeastern Idaho

CLUB, Inc., Idaho Falls – $147,743 for Eagle Pointe, which provides permanent housing for chronically homeless single individuals; $77,950 for Idaho Falls Permanent Housing, which provides permanent housing to chronically homeless single individuals.
EICAP, Idaho Falls – $72,183 for Homeless 2 Homeowner, which provides transitional housing for up to two years for homeless families.
Family Care Center, Idaho Falls – $70,446 for the Ark, which provides permanent housing for chronically homeless men; and $60,924 for Ruth House, which provides permanent housing for chronically homeless women.
SEICAA, Pocatello – $44,602 for Freedom LZ, which provides homeless single veterans with housing for up to two years; $28,844 for Jefferson House Transitional Housing, which provides housing for up to two years for single homeless veterans; and $64,795 for SEICAA Manor, which provides permanent housing for chronically single homeless individuals.
Aid for Friends, Pocatello – $111,260 for Pocatello Transitional Housing, which provides housing for up to two years for homeless families, and individuals.
Oneida Crisis Center, Mallad- $29,141 for permanent housing for disabled families and individuals, which have experienced domestic abuse.
Shelter Plus Care (S+C)

Idaho Housing and Finance Association -The Shelter Plus Care program provides permanent housing for disabled homeless families and individuals. Idaho’s regions received:
Coeur d’Alene – $109,740
Pocatello – $47,700
Idaho Falls – $71,208
Statewide – $302,244
Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)

Idaho Housing and Finance Association – $69,050 for statewide HMIS implementation. IHFA is the HMIS lead for both the Balance of State and Boise City/Ada County Continua. IHFA provides the training, system support, technical assistance, and reporting for all programs within the state.