An additional $1.7 million in emergency federal funding has been awarded to Monmouth County to provide shelter and/or rental assistance for homeless families and individuals during the coronavirus pandemic, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) said today. The funding comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act which Smith supported and was signed into law by President Trump on March 27.
“This federal grant will give more people access to subsidized housing as we battle through the COVID-19 pandemic,” Smith said. “Homeless individuals are among the most at-risk for transmission of coronavirus. This funding is targeted to support homeless families and individuals in Monmouth County who have been affected by COVID-19.”
The $1,772,793 provided through Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program will focus on communities with significant homeless populations–both sheltered and unsheltered– and those at the most risk for homelessness. It also takes into account economic and housing market conditions by making a modest adjustment for jurisdictions with very high market rents, such as Monmouth County.
“Monmouth County will use this emergency funding for rapid rehousing of homeless residents and rental assistance in collaboration with non-profit homeless assistance organizations,” Smith said. “The partnership between the federal, county and non-profit entities stretches the funding further and enhances the impact of homeless prevention and response programs to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19.”
The economic devastation brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak has increased the need for rental assistance in Monmouth County and the federal program is designed to help fill a gap as we look to reopen the economy and people go back to work, Smith said.
The homeless assistance ESG grant comes on the heels of other CARES funding the county received last month via the HUD’s Supplemental Public Housing Operating Funds program to bolster financial resources for the management, maintenance, and resident services in facilities hit hard by COVID-19 response. The Monmouth County Public Housing Authority received $343,654 for COVID-19 expenses, such as cleaning chemicals and materials.
Among others, the ESG program also awarded the City of Trenton, in Mercer County $1,197,016 and the State of New Jersey was awarded $27,263,010 for distribution to towns across the state.
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