Facing homelessness? These Lansing organizations received $14M to help you

Kristan Obeng
Lansing State Journal

LANSING – Joseph Galvan was 18 in the 1970s when he first started helping the homeless. 

As the Midwest regional administrator for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, he also continues his mission by handing out big checks to fight homelessness. And that’s what he did on Thursday afternoon in Lansing.  

Joseph Galvan awarded the city of Lansing nearly $14 million to fight homelessness on behalf of HUD on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020.

“Spend the money. Put it out in the streets. Come back for more,” Galvan advised three state agencies before handing them a nearly $14 million check that benefits the entire city of Lansing.

Known as HUD Continuum of Care grants, this funding supports programs to assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness or those at imminent risk of becoming homeless.

“One homeless American is too many,” Galvan added. “We’re joining forces with you and the community to ensure no one experiences homelessness. And if they do — that it be brief, rare and a non-recurring experience.” 

Galvan doled out the check as part of nearly $2.2 billion in grants HUD gave to homeless assistance programs across the U.S. 

Michigan alone received nearly $73.4 million to support 274 programs serving individuals experiencing homelessness. This was a $5 million increase from the amount awarded in 2019, Galvan said. 

Twelve of the more than $2.5 million in grants the city of Lansing received were renewals, with a brand new one totaling $190,577.

Overall homelessness in Michigan fell nearly 34.3% since 2010 with the help of local programs, according to Galvan.

But 65,000 people each year still experience homelessness, added Kelly Rose, chief housing solutions officer for Michigan State Housing Development Authority.

Joseph Galvan (center) awarded the city of Lansing nearly $14 million to fight homelessness on behalf of HUD on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020.

Agencies fighting homelessness in Lansing

Several local organizations and state agencies plan to use the HUD grant money to help Lansing residents. 

“This funding lets us help those who are homeless and experiencing chronic crisis,” said Miguel Rodriguez, executive director at Capital Area Community Services, which works to end poverty in the tri-county area and Shiawassee county.

Capital Area Community Services received a grant renewal for $108,364. The agency will use the funds to address the underlying causes of homelessness with programs like Head Start, utility assistance and emergency relief. 

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority will use the nearly $1.8 million it received to preserve and continue creating affordable housing, according to Rose. 

MSHDA oversees and administers a variety of programs, such as subsidized housing assistance, housing choice vouchers and home loans. 

Additionally, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will use the more than $9 million it received to continue working to reduce intergenerational poverty and helping with rental assistance and rapid rehousing, said Paula Kaiser Van Dam, the director of the bureau of community services.

Lastly, Peckham, which provides job training for people with disabilities, received $92,980 to support its employee assistance network. 

Contact LSJ reporter Kristan Obeng at KObeng@lsj.com or 517-267-1344. Follow her on Twitter @KrissyObeng.

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