The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $75 million to combat youth homelessness on Aug. 29.
The $75 million is earmarked for people under age 25 who experience homelessness. The grant is $32 million more than the amount given last year, and Tucson will receive a little over $4.5 million.
In addition to Arizona, the award will be funding communities in Alaska, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wyoming.
“The solutions to youth homelessness that are being built and tested through HUD’s YHDP (Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program) ... represent community collaboration at its best,” said Matthew Doherty, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness in a public statement. “We are confident that these communities, and their Youth Action Boards, will help lead us along the path to end youth homelessness in our country.”
Over the course of the next few months, the communities receiving funding will work with their community partners to launch plans to end youth homelessness. HUD’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program provides money to communities for rapid rehousing, supportive and transitional housing, and host homes.