MISSOULA — In contracts approved this week, nearly $90,000 in federal funding will go to three Missoula organizations to provide emergency housing for the homeless and to assist them in gaining stable housing over the long term.
Each year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awards Missoula an allotment of federal grants. The City Council directs the funding to qualified local agencies that meet the grant criteria.
The City Council approved the contracts on Wednesday.
“They’re part of our scoring criteria each year and they include a match requirement,” said Montana James with the city’s Office of Housing and Community Development. “The highest scoring projects tend to bring a pretty significant match from other resources.”
This year, the Poverello Center will receive two awards, including $15,000 to fund a housing retention specialist and $25,000 to support its rapid intake program. The latter effort has played a key role in providing resources to homeless individuals, according to local housing experts.
The YWCA will also receive $25,000 to support Ada’s Place, an emergency housing program that provides shelter and case management for homeless families. The program provides temporary emergency housing in local motel rooms or studio apartments leased by the YWCA.
James said the federal grant will provide shelter for one to three days to an estimated 100 local families.
The remaining $18,780 will go to Homeword to support its financial education and renter counseling program. It’s expected to reach up to 1,000 individuals, while an additional 30 people will receive personal support from a specialist to help them acquire stable and long-term housing.
The programs were recommended for funding by city officials in May.
“This is the granting of federal grant dollars,” said council member Stacie Anderson. “This is not any general fund dollars.”
