Governor Doyle Announces More Than $6.3 Million to Benefit Homeless Persons

For Immediate Release: July 21, 2009
Contact: Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608-267-9661
Carla Vigue, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162

MADISON - Governor Jim Doyle today announced awards totaling $6,395,897 to 88 organizations across Wisconsin for emergency shelter, homeless prevention, transitional housing and supportive service programs. Wisconsin Department of Commerce Secretary Richard J. Leinenkugel presented the awards on behalf of the Governor at the Wisconsin Conference on Homelessness in Middleton.

"These funds will help local agencies provide direct services to homeless persons and also help prevent people from becoming homeless," Governor Doyle said. "During these tough economic times, it is especially vital that we come together to help one another and make this state a great place to live for all."

The award breakdown is as follows:

• $4,622,588 to 66 agencies through the Emergency Shelter/Transitional Housing/ Homelessness Prevention/Critical Assistance Grant Programs. These programs pay for shelter operations, essential services and for short term rental and foreclosure rescue assistance. See link for details: http://commerce.wi.gov/NEWS/releases/2009/docs/HomelessAwards-ESGTHP.pdf
• $906,400 to nine agencies through the HOME Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program This program supports eligible homeless and special needs tenants with up to 2 years of rental assistance. See link for more details: http://commerce.wi.gov/NEWS/releases/2009/docs/HomelessAwards-TBRA.pdf
• $773,909 to seven agencies through the Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness Program. This program funds a variety of services for individuals with serious mental illness, or with co-occurring substance abuse disorders, who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. See link for more details: http://commerce.wi.gov/NEWS/releases/2009/docs/HomelessAwards-PATH.pdf
• $93,000 to six organizations administering the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery Program. This program supports the coordination of services and benefit assistance for homeless persons with mental illness. See link for more details: http://commerce.wi.gov/NEWS/releases/2009/docs/HomelessAwards-SOAR.pdf

These federal and state grant awards also involve a number of sub recipient homeless service provider agencies and organizations, resulting in coverage to most of the state.

For more information about Commerce homeless programs, contact Marty Evanson, Commerce, 608-267-2713.

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