10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness and Reduce

Homelessness in the Cape Fear Region

UnitedWayoftheCapeFearArea
ArboretumCenter,BuildingII
5919OleanderDrive;Suite115
Wilmington,NC28403
Tel.910.798.3900
www.capefearhomeless.org

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 15, 2009

CONTACT: Dan Ferrell
TELEPHONE: 910-798-3900 EXT 115

MAJOR RECOVERY ACT (ARRA) FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT

UNITED WAY OF THE CAPE FEAR AREA

AND
THE 10 YEAR PLAN TO END CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS
ANNOUNCE $1.2 MILLION GRANT FOR NEW
HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND RAPID RE-HOUSING PROGRAM

WILMINGTON, NC United Way of the Cape Fear Area has announced it will receive a $1.2 million
grant to fund a new program to address homelessness prevention and housing in the three-county Cape
Fear area.

The grant is funded by the federal American Recovery and Re-investment Act of 2009 through the North
Carolina Office of Economic Recovery. This federal program is called the Homelessness Prevention and
Rapid-Re-housing Program or HPRP. It is the only new program created by the Recovery Act.

Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo and New Hanover County Vice-Chairman Jason Thompson, both
members of the 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness Executive Board, were on hand for the
funding announcement made by United Way president Chris Nelson.

Fundsfromthegrantwillprovideacombinationofrentalandutilityassistancetolowincome
householdsthatarealreadyhomelessorinperilofbecominghomelessinBrunswick,NewHanover
andPendercounties.

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The10YearPlantoEndChronicHomelessnessandReduceHomelessnessintheCapeFearRegionisa
communityinitiativethatismanagedandpartiallyfundedbyUnitedWay.Nelson said 10YearPlan
staffhasbeenworkingcollaborativelywithcommunityserviceproviderssincelearningaboutthe
availabilityofthe$18millioninHPRPfundsallocatedtocertainNorthCarolinacommunitieslast
springtobuildabroadbased,threecountycoalitiontoapplyforthosefunds.

Duringthatprocess,attherequestofanumberoftheparticipatingcommunityorganizations,
UnitedWayoftheCapeFearAreasBoardofDirectorsagreedtoserveastheleadapplicantforthis
application.

NelsonthankedWilmingtonMayorBillSaffoforhisleadershipinmaximizingthisfunding
opportunityfortheentirethreecountyareabyquicklygrantingtheCityofWilmingtons
permissionforaUnitedWayapplicationtogoforward.NelsonalsothankedUnitedWayboard
chairmanBobStuartfortheboardsquickdecisionthatallowedUnitedWayoftheCapeFearArea
toserveastheleadapplicantforthegrantapplication.

AccordingtoNelson,UnitedWayhasconsiderableexperienceinmanagingdollarsdirectedtosocial
programsthroughourCommunityImpactprogramsandthroughmanagementofspecial
communityinitiativeslikethe10YearPlan,theBlueRibbonCommissiononYouthViolenceandthe
SeniorAidsProgram.Infiscalyear2010UnitedWayoftheCapeFearAreawillallocate
approximately$150,000toagenciesthatservehomelesspopulationsthroughoutthethreecounty
area,hesaid.

InitseffortstofacilitatethedevelopmentofacommunitysHPRPplan,the10YearPlanstaff
engagedaverybroadacoalitiononethatencompassedstakeholdersfromallthreeCapeFear
areacounties.Thegoalofthecoalitionwastoquicklystimulatethecreationofacomprehensive
HPRPprogramnotonlyfortheCityofWilmington,butforBrunswick,NewHanoverandPender
counties,aswell.

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The Street is No Place To Live

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NelsonannouncedUnitedWayssuccessfulcollaborationwithagroupoffiveCapeFearArea
HomelessnessPreventionandRapidRehousingPartnerAgenciesthatformthefoundationforthis
newprogram.Thefivepartneragenciesare:BrunswickFamilyAssistanceAgency;TheSalvation
ArmyofWilmington;TheGoodShepherdCenter;PenderCountyHousingandAMEZHousing
CommunityDevelopmentCorporation.

Ourcommunitypartnershipwasforgedtoallowustoveryquicklybegintodirectfederalfunds
appropriatelytoprevention,shelterdiversionandrapidrehousingthroughouttheContinuumof
Caresentirethreecountyarea,saidNelson.Ourdecisiontoapplyforthesefederalfundswas
basedonanoverallassessmentofthelevelofneedwithinourcommunityandtheneedforthis
programishigh.

AccordingtoNelson,morethan40%ofthecallsmadefromtheCapeFearareatothe211help
lineinAugustinvolvedrequestsforrentalorutilityassistance.

NelsonsaidthenumberofhomelesshouseholdswithdependentchildreninthethreecountyCape
Fearareaincreasedbymorethanthreehundredpercentfromthe2008to2009,accordingtothe
HUDPointinTimeCountfrom44householdsin2008to150householdsin2009.

Infact,thelevelofneedissohighthatnoneofourHPRPProgramPartneragenciesanticipatesany
challengeinusingtheentire$1,200,000duringthethreeyearperiod,saidNelson.Thisthree
yearHPRPallocationof$1.2millionwillallowourpartneragenciestoprovideservicestoasmany
as1,500homelessandatriskpeoplethroughoutourthreecountyareawithinthethreeyeargrant
cycle.

The10YearPlanstaffwillmanagethegrantwithintheUnitedWaystructureandwillconduct
outreachandpublicinformationactivitiesonbehalfofthepartnership.TheHPRPRecoveryAct
fundswillbecomeavailableafterOctober1,2009andmustbespentbySeptember30,2012.

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The Street is No Place To Live