Organizations working to end youth homelessness in Lane County face increased need and limited resources. The county is applying for a grant through the Department of Housing and Urban Development which could amount to multi-millions to address the issue.
HUD’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program Grant will fund 25 communities nationwide. Awards will be between $1 million and $15 million. Lane County applied for the funding last year and scored high but not high enough.
Alexandria Dreher with Department of Health and Human Services is co-writing the grant.
“We have a lot more partners at the table this year so I am optimistic,” Dreher says.
Lane County is collaborating with 15th Night, Looking Glass, Juvenile Justice and Homes for Good to apply.
“This is an opportunity to invest in youth who will be our future also --interrupt the cycle of homelessness, generational poverty-- in a really meaningful way and do it as a community,” Dreher tells KLCC.
The grant application is due by May 15 and decisions are expected by this summer.
