By Tim Leeds
People in Havre needing help finding housing just got a boost in funding.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded the Human Resource Development Council District IV more than $50,000. The grant was among more than $1.85 million to help provide housing for homeless people in Montana.
HRDC executive director Tom Bolan said the grant will provide funding for HRDC's transitional housing program, which provides temporary housing for people who are displaced by eviction or other problems while they work to improve their situation.
Bolan said HRDC applied for the grant to continue funding the program. HUD awarded the money as part of its "Continuum of Care" grants, which allow communities to meet their own needs to help homeless people.
Bolan said the grant will provide funding for operation of the transitional housing and support for HRDC's case management. Case managers are assigned to each family in the transitional housing program to help the family overcome barriers while seeking permanent housing, employment and other improvements to their lives and financial situation.
HRDC District IV, founded in 1965 through President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty, is a community action agency providing a variety of assistance to low-income families and individuals in Hill, Blaine and Liberty counties.
The Montana grants are part of more than $1 billion awarded nationwide to help homeless people.
HUD awarded more than $1,485,000 in eight "Continuum of Care" grants in five Montana cities, including Billings, Helena, Kalispell and Missoula, as well as Havre.
HUD also distributes "Emergency Shelter Grants" to help provide services that include job training, health care, drug and alcohol counseling, child care and other homeless prevention activities. The program awarded $370,000 to Montana programs.
