State's Homeless Population Benefits from $2.3 Million Federal Grant

BOISE ­ A $2,255,256 million federal grant will provide shelter and supportive services to homeless Idaho families and individuals over the next three years, thanks to an innovative grant proposal by the Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA) and homeless service providers statewide. Homeless service providers expect to serve 14,284 homeless families and individuals using the grant funds.

IHFA will allocate the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds on behalf of the state. The funds will be distributed to organizations that serve homeless households.

1996 marks the first year that HUD has combined three different homeless programs into one big funding block, called a Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance application, according to Rod Beck, IHFA executive director.

"It took IHFA staff three months to complete this grant application process, but our shared efforts with Idaho's nonprofit communities earned the state more funding than ever before," said Beck. "We met, initially, with communities in seven different regions to determine how much homeless funding they felt they needed and where they needed it most."

These meetings helped IHFA staff piece together Idaho's homeless puzzle in a Continuum of Care Plan. The Plan helped IHFA along with homeless service providers prioritize each region's most important homeless projects. Providers then submitted 10 final proposals to IHFA for inclusion into the state's overall grant application.

IHFA is a independent public body, corporate and politic, providing funding for affordable housing opportunities in Idaho communities where they are most needed. IHFA must generate all revenue necessary to cover its operation costs. It does this by earning fees for work performed and uses no state funds or state employees. IHFA's main office is located at 565 West Myrtle in Boise, Idaho, with five branch offices throughout the state in Twin Falls, Blackfoot, Idaho Falls, Lewiston and Coeur d'Alene.