In full transparency, the following is a media release from Sen. Ed Markey and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who were elected by voters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to serve the state in Washington DC in the US Senate. Both are Democrats. (stock photo)
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WASHINGTON DC – United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), along with Representatives Richard E. Neal (D-MA-01), James P. McGovern (D-Mass.), Stephen F. Lynch (D-Mass.), Bill Keating (D-Mass.), Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), and Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), today, March 16, announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded $104,616,107 in federal grants to support efforts to end homelessness in Massachusetts.
The funding, which was awarded through HUD’s Continuum of Care (CoC) program, will assist nonprofit providers, states, and local governments as they work to provide emergency, transitional, and permanent supportive housing for individuals experiencing homelessness and survivors of domestic violence; help connect individuals at risk of experiencing homelessness with supports and services; and identify local service and housing needs.
“States, local governments, and nonprofits fight on the front lines against homelessness day in and day out, and we must do everything we can to support them,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren. “Safe, stable, and affordable housing is a basic right, and this new federal funding will go a long way towards protecting families and individuals in Massachusetts who are experiencing homelessness — while also ensuring residents at risk of experiencing homelessness have access to assistance to prevent homelessness.”
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“We can prevent homelessness from becoming hopelessness by connecting people to housing, providing support and services to our Bay State brothers and sisters who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of it, and investing in local providers who do this important work every day so that they can continue to fight for an end to homelessness across our state,” said Senator Ed Markey. “I’m proud to have worked with my colleagues in the House and Senate to deliver this critical funding.”
“This important funding from HUD will allow for communities and organizations across western and central Massachusetts plan, implement, or continue their missions of reducing homelessness,” said Congressman Richard E. Neal, Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means. “I am grateful to my local partners and the work they do to provide individuals with safe, affordable, and consistent housing.”
“COVID-19 has magnified so many of the social and economic injustices in our country, but let’s be clear: even before the pandemic, we were not doing enough to make sure everyone in America has a roof over their head,” said Chairman McGovern. “We have a moral obligation to support the most vulnerable members of our community, especially survivors of domestic violence, and to make sure they have an appropriate place to call home. These grants will go a long way towards ensuring that everyone in our commonwealth can access safe, stable, affordable housing. I’m thankful to the Department of Housing & Urban Development for getting these critical funds into the hands of the people and organizations that need them.”
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“This federal funding of over $100 million is a godsend to people struggling with homelessness in a difficult housing market,” said Rep. Lynch. “I am very pleased to see Massachusetts receive this critical funding to continue our efforts to end homelessness. These grants will help our towns and cities and nonprofit providers support those in need of housing assistance and connect them with the resources and services they need. I am grateful to my House and Senate colleagues and for the hundreds of organizations across the Commonwealth that will use this funding to help the most vulnerable in our society.”
“Homelessness is a policy failure and should be unacceptable. The pandemic and its economic fallout pulled back the curtain on the deficit of affordable housing available in Massachusetts and just how important safe housing is to our collective public health. I am proud of the progress we have made in this year’s budget, and I will continue to fight to end homelessness, invest in affordable housing, and ensure everyone has access to shelter and safety,” Assistant Speaker Clark said.
“Housing is a critical determinant of public health and a fundamental human right,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “This funding will help us protect the health of folks across the 7th who are facing the threat of homelessness by keeping them safely housed. Grateful to my delegation colleagues and the administration for their partnership in delivering these critical dollars to further affirm housing as a human right in Massachusetts.”
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“As we continue our pandemic recovery, it’s critical that we support our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Congresswoman Lori Trahan. “The $104 million in grants awarded through HUD’s Continuum of Care program will do just that by supporting local and statewide efforts to assist those experiencing homelessness in our communities. I’m proud to join with my colleagues to announce this key funding as we work together to end homelessness across the Commonwealth once and for all.”
“Organizations in my district like New Hope have been going it alone for too long. It is long past time for Congress to step up and provide the funds necessary to address homelessness, and some of its root causes, including mental health, as well as its dangerous side effects, like sexual assault,” Congressman Auchincloss said.
The complete list includes 243 state and local homelessness projects funded in Massachusetts by these grants.
More information about HUD’s CoC program is available here.
Representative Jack Lewis 
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