COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The City of Colorado Springs Community Development Division has awarded over $1.8 million in grants to Colorado Springs non-profit organizations helping low-income households weather the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This award of CARES Act funding will help organizations that are working diligently in our community to help people affected by the pandemic. These funds will help address several critical needs such as housing stability assistance, mental and physical health services, and other programs to help people get back on their feet, such as job training or legal services,” said Steve Posey, Community Development Manager and HUD Administrator for the City of Colorado Springs.
CARES Act Community Development Block Grant Public Services awards ($1 million)
More than half of these funds are dedicated to rental and mortgage assistance for low-income residents experiencing loss of income due to the pandemic. The award recipients are:
- Greccio Housing – rental assistance ($300,000)
- Silver Key – nutritional assistance for seniors ($131,000)
- Family Promise – rental assistance ($118,000)
- Catholic Charities – rental assistance ($100,000)
- TESSA – domestic violence outreach and assistance ($87,000)
- Partners in Housing – internet services for families ($64,000)
- Colorado Health Network – mental health services ($50,000)
- Care and Share – nutritional assistance ($50,000)
- Atlas Prep – family services ($50,000)
- Community Partnership for Childhood Development – child care ($50,000)
CARES Act Emergency Solutions Grant Awards ($800,000)
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds assist individuals and families who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Under the CARES Act, the program prioritizes projects that help homeless service providers adhere to public health guidelines and projects that help individuals affected by the coronavirus quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness. The award recipients are:
- Springs Rescue Mission – Emergency Shelter ($118,000)
- Partners in Housing – Homelessness Prevention ($80,000)
- The Place – Emergency Shelter ($70,000)
- TESSA – Emergency Shelter ($69,000)
- Community Health Partnership – Homeless Management Information Systems (client service software) ($63,000)
The remainder of the ESG funds will go to various service providers staffing the emergency isolation shelter at City Auditorium as needed. The temporary shelter was set up in April to shelter and care for homeless individuals experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
Two signature block grant programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received extra funding through the CARES Act passed by Congress on March 27. With $5 billion designated to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and $4 billion to the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program, HUD has made these funds available to current grantees like the City of Colorado Springs through multiple rounds of funding.
Community Development Division staff solicited applications this summer from qualified agencies for funding coronavirus response programs to allocate $1.4 million for this first and current round of funding. The City expects to receive a second round of CARES Act ESG funding from HUD later this year. Staff is working with Community Health Partnerships on a high impact, community-wide strategy that leverages other public and private funding to quickly house residents experiencing homelessness.
Background
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awards grant funds by formula to jurisdictions every year. This special allocation of CARES Act funds does not affect previous plans for regular 2020 grant funds. The Community Development Division staff worked with emergency response staff, service providers, public health officials, and others to determine areas of need for these additional funds. For more information about CDBG Public Services or ESG funds, contact communitydevelopment@coloradosprings.gov.