The federal government announced more than a year ago that $3 million in stimulus dollars were headed to the Lehigh Valley to prevent and reverse homelessness.Federal funds always tend to arrive more slowly than folks would like, but they are arriving. Allentown's Commission on Ending Chronic Homelessness is working to publicize the new resources available, while governments and organizations across Lehigh and Northampton County are accessing the money. There are pots of money for emergency re-housing, for covering rent and utilities on a short-term basis and for employment counseling. It seems like a comprehensive approach that recognizes that people can be in crisis for a short amount of time, may just need a little assist to bridge a tough time, or may need a deeper level of support to pave the way to self-sufficiency.
That money is just beginning to make its way into the local economy in the form of emergency rent and utility payments to help the newly unemployed avoid eviction or get off the streets.
Remember, you can always track stimulus funding at Recovery.gov
2 comments:
How do you figure Obama's Porkulus is going to prevent homelessness?
(this should be interesting)
You know,
You guys could probably get Porkulus funds to finance the dramatic readings idea proposed last week from that article about right-wing fruitcakes.
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