Christmas Comes Early for Homeless Assistance Programs

The holidays may be wrapping up, but homeless services organizations throughout San Mateo County can expect a major financial boost from U.S. Housing and Urban Development, HUD officials announced this week.

The federal housing department has awarded $76 million in grants to fund local initiatives combating homelessness in 2012, according to a statement from HUD.

More than 200 Bay Area recipients are among 7,100 homeless aid organizations nationwide to receive the federal grants as part of the Obama administration's plan to prevent and end homelessness, according to HUD.

Meanwhile, in nearby San Mateo County, the homeless population has risen by 17 percent since 2009, according to Congresswoman Jackie Speier's office.

In that county, HUD has awarded $5.6 million in grants to keep local homeless assistance programs open next year.    

These organizations have been providing individuals and families the shelter and emotional support needed to get them back on their feet.

"At Shelter Network, we support homeless children and families with more than just housing and hot meals," said Communications Director Maria Duzon in a statement. "Through case management and a variety of supportive services, we empower families to increase their employment, education, and ability to retain permanent housing long-term."

There will be a Christmas Eve Dinner for single adults at the Maple Street Shelter from 4:30-7:00 at 1580A Maple Street. Volunteers from Temple Beth Jacob will serve Christmas Eve dinner for 75 single adult residents, followed by holiday activities.

For cities and counties like San Francisco, which is set to accept $18.9 million in grant money for its homeless programs, the money will allow local organizations to keep their doors open to those with nowhere else to go.

"These HUD grants help us serve the most vulnerable of our city and will allow us to continue to make progress in ending homelessness in San Francisco," Mayor Ed Lee said in a statement. "These funds also support crucial outreach, employment and housing services to homeless San Francisco families."

According to the statement from the mayor's office, a January 2011 count showed that San Francisco saw a 47 percent drop in chronic homelessness in 2009 and 2010 compared to previous years.

Similar visions of preventing and ending homelessness are shared by dozens of grant awardees in Alameda County, which are set to receive over $22 million from HUD in 2012.

Wendy Jackson, executive director of the East Oakland Community Project, a transition and emergency housing program, said $161,000 in federal grant money will allow the small organization to continue housing local families and youth on the verge of homelessness.

The group expects to use the funds to cover transitional housing, casework, food and other services for a few dozen families and about a dozen 18-to 25-year-olds, she said.

"It's great that this money came through, especially in these extremely economically precarious times, that these people who are all low-income can be afforded an opportunity to get back up on their feet," Jackson said.

Without the ongoing federal support, she said, these and similar Oakland housing programs would be cut.

-- Bay City News, Stacie Chan contributed to this report.