After the final round of the Transformational Homelessness Response Grant Program, the Department of Local Affairs announced Colorado’s 26 awardees, from cities to local organizations, that help combat homelessness.
On Sept. 13, DOLA awarded more than $47 million to the recipients through the State Housing Board.
The $47 million was broken into $39,376,809 from the Division of Housing that spanned across multiple Colorado counties and five THR Grant Program awards that totaled $8,225,249.
Backed by HB22-1304 and HB22-1377 the THR Grant Program works to ensure a stable and stable and safe place to live.
Each awardees’ main goal is to prevent or reduce homelessness and to transform outcomes, systems and programs in communities.
Local awards include $1,455,537 for Housing Solutions for the Southwest – based in Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma and San Juan counties – and $45,000 for The Piñon Project in Cortez.
Housing Solutions for the Southwest, an organization that helps with rental assistance and affordable housing, plans to use the grant to issue funds for up to three years for homeless prevention, operations and services for eviction, systems improvement and capacity building.
The Piñon Project, which runs multiple services for families such as parenting, youth programs and emergency services, intends to utilize the $45,000 for rapid rehousing services that can be used within three years.
“The aim of the Rapid Rehousing Program is to end the cycle of homelessness by quickly connecting individuals and families to affordable housing,” Kellie Willis, The Piñon Project’s executive director, said in an email. “The program does so by providing move in assistance, temporary rent subsidies, and housing-focused case management.”
The organization’s project, Montezuma County Homelessness Prevention Coalition, dedicates itself to respond to Cortez and Montezuma County’s chronic homeless single adults. The project focuses on accessibility, equity and diversity, and it continues its services to help them understand how to end homelessness.
The Piñon Project aims to target this goal by increasing street outreach with additional staff, create an accessible and safe low-barrier day shelter and supply secure financial assistance for stable housing and case management to sustain housing.
