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August 2, 2009

Federal stimulus package funds new anti-homelessness program

Catholic Charities will be able to help families who are struggling to keep their homes because of the ongoing economic crisis.

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago will receive nearly $1 million in federal government stimulus money, through Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services.

The funds will be used to rapidly re-house families who fall into homelessness, or prevent them from becoming homeless in the first place. The program will start Sept. 30 and run for one year.

Catholic Charities announced the program at a July 27 press conference. It will be a “partner agency,” responsible for assessing and enrolling households into the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development’s new Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing program and also providing ongoing housing stabilization services. Catholic Charities also will link households to legal services and housing relocation services if they are needed. Catholic Charities will provide these services at nine locations within the city of Chicago, targeting 51 community areas, many of which are in high need areas of the South and Southwest sides.