Office of U.S. Senator Patty Murray
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the incoming Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, announced Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) FY 2020 awards totaling more than $84.4 million for communities across Washington state. The federal investments come from the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program, which provides funding to nonprofit providers, as well as state and local governments, to quickly provide housing options for families and people facing homelessness or fleeing domestic violence. Of these awards, over $7 million will be used across the state to combat youth homelessness through the CoC Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP). As COVID-19 continues to take a heavy toll on people across Washington state, and families struggle to make rent, children and families facing housing insecurity are at an increased risk of exposure and transmission, and often lack a safe place to self-isolate should the need arise.
“This pandemic has hit individuals and families navigating housing insecurity and homelessness especially hard, and it’s important now more than ever that those people have access to safe housing options to self-isolate or practice social distancing,” Senator Murray said. “These federal awards are critical to that fight and ensuring that the many children and families struggling to keep a roof over their heads have the help they need. Congress must do more, and I won’t stop fighting to get our most vulnerable families the housing assistance they need to stay safe and live during this difficult time.”
Last year, Senator Murray helped secure over $100 million in Emergency Solutions Grants for Washington state through the CARES Act, which provided a critical lifeline for people and families experiencing or facing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. And as a senior member of the Senate subcommittee responsible for housing appropriations, Senator Murray has consistently fought to strengthen funding for McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants programs to combat the housing crisis in Washington state and across the country. In 2016, Senator Murray helped create the YHDP program as part of the FY 2016 appropriations bill to expand funding for rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, and transitional housing to youth experiencing homelessness, and has previously secured millions of dollars in YHDP awards for Washington state since the program’s creation.
In total, $84,416,184 in FY 2020 grant renewals were awarded to communities across Washington state through the CoC Program.
A Federal award went to Okanogan Behavioral HealthCare / The Shove House, Omak, CoCR Program, Renewal for. $72,280
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