Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) announced today that the federal government has awarded more than $31 million additional dollars under emergency funding measures to the State of Hawai"i to mitigate the immediate health and economic impacts of COVID-19.
"After Congress enacted H.R. 748, the $2.2 trillion CARES Act, in March, the federal government moved quickly to get desperately needed emergency assistance distributed throughout the country as soon as possible, and Hawai"i received the first awards in April to help our communities here deal with this pandemic on all levels," said Case.
"In this newest round of funding from the CARES Act, our communities will receive more than $30 million in federal aid from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to enable the delivery of critical programs and services to the people of Hawai"i.
"This round of Emergency Solution Grant (ESG) awards will provide funding to help homeless and low-income persons to regain stability in permanent housing," said Case. "The grants also provide funding for emergency and or transitional shelters and rapidly/immediately rehousing homeless persons and families."
Case said the funding allocated today can be used to:
Make more emergency shelters available for homeless individuals and families.
Operate emergency shelters by providing food, rent, security, maintenance, repair, fuel, equipment, insurance, utilities, furnishings, and supplies necessary for their operation.
Provide Hotel/Motel Vouchers for homeless families and individuals.
Provide essential services to people experiencing homelessness including childcare, education services, employment assistance, outpatient health services, legal services, mental health services, substance abuse treatment services, and transportation.
Prevent individuals from becoming homeless and rapidly rehouse homeless individuals.
Case said Congress has provided $4 billion for HUD's ESG program for local governments to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus among individuals and families who are homeless, receiving homeless assistance, or are at risk of becoming homeless.