County board OKs grant funds to aid homeless storm victims
The Lee Board of County Commissioners continued its commitment on March 4 to people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness due to natural disasters, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The board voted to accept $529,738 in Emergency Solutions Grant Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and $112,441.53 Emergency Solutions Grant Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing grant funds from the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Approximately 90 individuals are expected to receive shelter and behavior health services through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds. About 35 individuals or 15 families are expected to receive assistance from the Florida Department of Children and Families funds.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires recipients of HUD funding to file Annual Action Plans outlining projects that will use the grant funds. Commissioners approved the 2024 Annual Action Plan on Aug. 6.
The Lee County Continuum of Care includes local governments, agencies, advocates and program users who collectively plan and implement programs to serve individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Lee County. The Lee County Homeless Coalition and Lee County Human & Veteran Services coordinate this effort, and the county officially submits an annual grant application for HUD funding as the “Collaborative Applicant.”
This federal funding provides housing and services for individuals who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness and has been accepted and used in Lee County since 1995. In addition, the county officially submits grant applications for the State of Florida Department of Children and Families’ Office on Homelessness funding as the “Collaborative Applicant.” In 2019, the county was awarded the Homelessness Unified Grant, which is a multi-year grant award.
Emergency Solutions Grant Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing grant funds are intended to fill a gap in federal disaster assistance for people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. People experiencing pre-disaster homelessness have very limited eligibility for FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance. FEMA does not provide long-term housing assistance, and, as a result, when short-term FEMA assistance ends, many displaced individuals are at risk of long-term homelessness.
After disasters, the cost of rent often increases, adding another barrier to available housing. ESG RUSH funds are intended to fill this gap in assistance, giving communities much needed resources to provide long-term housing solutions for individuals experiencing pre-disaster homelessness and to prevent long-term homelessness among newly displaced individuals.