Western Exposure

Stimulus money to stave off homelessness

By September 28, 2009March 19th, 2015No Comments

Utah is using some of its stimulus money to assist people who need short-term rental assistance. The goal is to keep those people, many of whom are seeking help for the first time, from slipping into homelessness and eventually costing the system a lot more, writes Matthew D. La Plante of the Salt Lake Tribune. Utah received $8.4 million of the $1.5 billion earmarked for homelessness prevention in the stimulus bill.

In the last month or so, nearly 600 families have sought help with housing through one of Salt Lake’s community assistance programs. The new funding will allow agencies to help many more people than they currently do. Of the 587 families who sought help last month at Salt Lake Community Action Program, for example, only 84 actually received any.

Carol Smith

Carol Smith

Co-Founder

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