Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester Announce $7 million in CARES Act Grants from HUD

Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper, Chris Coons and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) announced grant awards totaling nearly $7 million from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to Delaware from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

These HUD grants are distributed through its Community Development Block Grant, Emergency Solutions Grant, and Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS programs to help Delaware combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This funding is crucial for our most vulnerable populations in Delaware,” said Senator Carper. “From providing homeless assistance to helping those who are immunocompromised stay healthy during this pandemic, these grants will help our cities and agencies meet the needs of our neighbors.”

“With nearly $7 million in new housing and community development grants, our partners across the state of Delaware can better serve those most in need – from individuals experiencing homelessness to the immunocompromised,” said Senator Coons. “In my role on the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to identify ways the federal government can bolster local efforts as we battle COVID-19.”

“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, I’ve been very concerned about at-risk populations, and in particular, those who are homeless or who are immunocompromised,” said Rep. Blunt Rochester. “We will continue our work to ensure that those vulnerable populations can secure the housing they need and deserve during this crisis.” 

“Each day our partners throughout the Mid-Atlantic are working to overcome the challenges presented by COVID-19,” said Joe DeFelice, regional administrator for HUD’s Mid-Atlantic region. “The innovation and collaboration have been remarkable—and heartwarming. In Delaware, the Continuum of Care, in collaboration with New Castle County and with assistance from the City of Wilmington, used the County’s Community Development Block Grant public service dollars to rent portable toilets and sinks—creating handwashing stations for those who had no place to go once libraries, restaurants and shops were closed to the public. There are so many powerful stories like this one, of neighbors helping neighbors. With this new funding, nearly $7 million in the First State alone, there will be many more opportunities to help those who are and will be in need due to the pandemic. I look forward to the day when this is all behind us, and I can thank all who stepped up face-to-face.”

“This much needed infusion of federal funds will help to mitigate the devastating effects of the COVID-19 crisis on Wilmington’s most disadvantaged residents,” said Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki. “We will continue to work with our federal delegation and agencies throughout this continuing crisis because we are united in our efforts to ensure that vulnerable City residents are sheltered, fed and safe.”

A breakdown of the funding to Delaware:

$4.4 Million of the $2 Billion to Help States, Communities, and Non-profits:

• Construct medical facilities for testing and treatment.
• Acquire a motel or hotel building to expand capacity of hospitals to accommodate isolation of patients during recovery.
• Replace HVAC systems to temporarily transform commercial buildings or closed school buildings into clinics or treatment centers.
• Support businesses manufacturing medical supplies.
• Construct a group living facility to centralize patients undergoing treatment.
• Carry out job training of health care workers and technicians who are available to treat disease within a community.
• These funds will be allocated under HUD’s Community Development Block Grant program. View specific state and grantee allocations here.

$2.1 Million of the $1 Billion to Keep America’s Homeless Citizens Safe:

• Build more emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families.
• Operate emergency shelters by providing maintenance, rent, repair, security, fuel, equipment, insurance, utilities, food, furnishings, and supplies necessary for the operation.
• Provide Hotel/Motel Vouchers for homeless families or individuals.
• Provide essential services to people experiencing homelessness including childcare, education services, outreach, employment assistance, outpatient health services, legal services, mental health services, substance abuse treatment services, and transportation.
• Prevent individuals from becoming homeless and rapidly rehouse homeless individuals.
• These funds will be allocated under HUD’s Emergency Solutions Grants program. View specific state and grantee allocations here.

$335,000 of the $63.7 Million to Help American’s with Compromised Immune Systems:

• Increase the level of safe, stable housing for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS and their household members, by providing rental and utility assistance and other short-term lodging assistance to address isolation and self-quarantine needs. 
• Ensure access to HIV medical care and treatment, chemical dependency treatment, and mental health treatment.
• Provide persons with compromised immune systems with nutritional services and assistance with daily living.
• Assist in job training and placement assistance.
• HUD will award these funds under HUD’s Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) program. View specific state and grantee allocations here.

Cuts Red Tape to Allow for Targeting of COVID-19 Response:

• The authority to provide housing assistance payments for rent, mortgage, utilities for up to 24 months.
• The authority to use funds to self-isolate, quarantine, or provide other CDC-recommended infection control services for household members not living with HIV/AIDS.
• The authority to use funds to provide relocation services (including lodging at hotels, motels, or other locations) for persons living with HIV/AIDS and household members not living with HIV/AIDS.

Of the $335,043 in funding announced through HUD’s HOPWA program, more than half of the funding was awarded through competitive grants. Awards are based on competitive applications from States, local governments and nonprofit organizations with priority given by congressional authority to the renewal of expiring permanent supportive housing project grants. Two Wilmington nonprofits received funding including the Ministry of Caring, Inc., $88,126, and Connections Community Support Programs, $84,437.