Funds will support a variety of housing solutions
designed to ensure youth can access services
designed to ensure youth can access services
The Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED) in partnership with several local organizations has been awarded nearly $4.3 million dollars to combat youth homelessness.
Administered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the funds will be renewed annually and will support a wide variety of housing solutions such as rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, and host homes.
As part of the grant, HUD funds a six-month planning period where OCED and community partners will be able to create a consolidated community plan to ensure that youth will be able to access services and decide what changes need to be made to the system. After the six-month period, the $4.3 million will be released to the county.
This grant focuses on addressing youth homelessness in unique and creative ways giving the county the ability to serve populations that do not normally get served. Funds can go toward not only immediate housing solutions but also to preventative solutions that may keep youth from ever entering the homelessness system.
“We are very excited to have renewable funding to strengthen the youth response system in our community,” shared Pam Smith, OCED Human Services Administrator. “I want to thank Amanda Carlisle, WHA, and Kellie Rutledge, Ozone House for their tireless efforts to secure this grant.”
Applying for the grant was an extremely collaborative process including several members of the Continuum of Care. OCED, the Washtenaw Housing Alliance, Ozone House, Washtenaw County Community Mental Health, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services of Washtenaw County, the Ann Arbor Housing Commission, Red Maple Resources, and the Youth Advisory Board worked tirelessly to get this much needed funding for our community.
The Youth Advisory Board was instrumental in getting the grant. The board was originally formed in 2019 to advise the Continuum of Care on youth homelessness services, but because of the pandemic, the board was unable to continue. Earlier this year, thanks to Washtenaw Housing Alliance and Ozone House, the board was revived.
The youth created a video for the grant application to share some ideas of how the Washtenaw community should address youth homelessness. Going forward, the board will have a chance to be involved in selecting housing interventions that will directly focus on creating a more equitable homeless system of care in the county.
“Eighteen months ago, we set our sights on this goal, and we are proud of the community effort it took to make sure the Continuum of Care had all the pieces in place to make our community as competitive as possible for the HUD grant. From government partners, nonprofit agencies, and young people with lived experience of homelessness and housing insecurity, we all worked together to do our part to achieve this award,” Washtenaw Housing Alliance reflected.
OCED and the Continuum of Care is excited to continue working toward ending homelessness in Washtenaw County with these new resources. For any questions regarding the grant or the Continuum of Care, please contact Pam Smith at smithp@washtenaw.org.
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About Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED) In service of our belief that all Washtenaw County residents deserve a high quality of life, OCED delivers critical programs and community initiatives in the areas of affordable housing, human services, economic development and community infrastructure. We serve local individuals, families, and communities through a mix of direct services, public policy development, and investment of monetary and technical support. To learn more, visit www.washtenaw .org/oced
Administered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the funds will be renewed annually and will support a wide variety of housing solutions such as rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, and host homes.
As part of the grant, HUD funds a six-month planning period where OCED and community partners will be able to create a consolidated community plan to ensure that youth will be able to access services and decide what changes need to be made to the system. After the six-month period, the $4.3 million will be released to the county.
This grant focuses on addressing youth homelessness in unique and creative ways giving the county the ability to serve populations that do not normally get served. Funds can go toward not only immediate housing solutions but also to preventative solutions that may keep youth from ever entering the homelessness system.
“We are very excited to have renewable funding to strengthen the youth response system in our community,” shared Pam Smith, OCED Human Services Administrator. “I want to thank Amanda Carlisle, WHA, and Kellie Rutledge, Ozone House for their tireless efforts to secure this grant.”
Applying for the grant was an extremely collaborative process including several members of the Continuum of Care. OCED, the Washtenaw Housing Alliance, Ozone House, Washtenaw County Community Mental Health, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services of Washtenaw County, the Ann Arbor Housing Commission, Red Maple Resources, and the Youth Advisory Board worked tirelessly to get this much needed funding for our community.
The Youth Advisory Board was instrumental in getting the grant. The board was originally formed in 2019 to advise the Continuum of Care on youth homelessness services, but because of the pandemic, the board was unable to continue. Earlier this year, thanks to Washtenaw Housing Alliance and Ozone House, the board was revived.
The youth created a video for the grant application to share some ideas of how the Washtenaw community should address youth homelessness. Going forward, the board will have a chance to be involved in selecting housing interventions that will directly focus on creating a more equitable homeless system of care in the county.
“Eighteen months ago, we set our sights on this goal, and we are proud of the community effort it took to make sure the Continuum of Care had all the pieces in place to make our community as competitive as possible for the HUD grant. From government partners, nonprofit agencies, and young people with lived experience of homelessness and housing insecurity, we all worked together to do our part to achieve this award,” Washtenaw Housing Alliance reflected.
OCED and the Continuum of Care is excited to continue working toward ending homelessness in Washtenaw County with these new resources. For any questions regarding the grant or the Continuum of Care, please contact Pam Smith at smithp@washtenaw.org.
––––––––––––
About Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED) In service of our belief that all Washtenaw County residents deserve a high quality of life, OCED delivers critical programs and community initiatives in the areas of affordable housing, human services, economic development and community infrastructure. We serve local individuals, families, and communities through a mix of direct services, public policy development, and investment of monetary and technical support. To learn more, visit www.washtenaw .org/oced
