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The federal government will be providing almost $2 billion in stimulus money for housing assistance programs. The funds will help families pay their mortgage, obtain rent assistance, and help prevent homelessness. Hundreds of cities, towns, charities, and counties around the country will be receiving the housing assistance to prevent homelessness in their local communities. Find housing assistance programs in your state and community.
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) plans to send the government stimulus money to more than 500 cities, towns, counties and local communities. the funds will provide for rent assistance and other programs to help prevent homelessness and to assist those who have lost their homes. The funds and free grants are being distributed as part of a homelessness prevention program that was incorporated into the stimulus law to help millions of newly or nearly jobless Americans find housing or stay in their current residence. Find additional ways to get rent help. More.
Funds will even be provided for such endeavors as $1 million being made available for Fresno California to dismantle tent cities and move those families into privately owned apartments until a longer term solution is implemented.
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The grants are being used in a variety of different ways by state and local governments:
-Franklin County, Pennsylvania, will be using its government stimulus money to help families with paying back rent, security deposits, and utility bills, credit-repair programs, moving costs, and short-term storage.
-A nonprofit organization that operates in eastern Idaho is planning to use its stimulus funds toward one-time payments for families to pay rent or mortgages, and also offer foreclosure prevention programs.
-In Reading, Pa., an organization that was formed as a coalition for the homeless plans to provide short-term rent aid and they will also be offering landlord-tenant mediation to prevent evictions from apartments and homes.
-Stockton, California. The local government has plans to buy foreclosed houses and renovate them as affordable housing units to rent out at below market rates.
-St. Louis Missouri has charities and organizations that will be offering various housing support programs, including foreclosure assistance, mortgage help, and low income rent programs.
Find more housing authorities by state.
The federal government stimulus money will be a shot in the arm for struggling communities across the nation, and it will be tremendous help to provide housing assistance. It gives million of struggling families the means to pay their rent and provide housing for their children and themselves. Many of those who need help would otherwise have no where to go for assistance in the current, difficult economy.
While many parts of the country are facing difficult times, among stressed cities and areas, Fresno California’s Central Valley area is under even more stress than most. The city of Fresno, population of 430,000, has the highest concentration of poverty in the nation, and they have a tremendous need for housing assistance. Thousands are losing their homes to foreclosure, and there is a need for mortgage help as well.
Families struggling with homelessness has been persistent in the Fresno area. Just last year, a federal court judge ordered Fresno to pay over $2 million to homeless residents who had their property taking by the city without warning. But there is some good news in that Fresno is expected to receive $3 million for its homelessness initiatives and housing assistance programs, with one-third of those funds aimed at relocating and helping people in tent cities.
While most cities do not have tent cities, the bottom line is that the government grants will go a long way towards helping local communities provide foreclosure prevention services, rent assistance, and other housing aid.
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