The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded more than $1.6 million in federal grant money for services for the homeless, County Executive John R. Leopold announced last week.
The agency is sending:
$858,142 to provide housing vouchers and support services to more than 65 disabled individuals and families through programs operated by the Housing Commission of Anne Arundel County, the Anne Arundel County Mental Health Agency and the Maryland Mental Hygiene Administration.
$542,889 to continue to provide transitional housing or permanent supportive housing for a year for more than 25 homeless families and 19 homeless men through programs operated by Catholic Charities, the Arundel House of Hope, and Annapolis Area Ministries.
$70,786 to community residences to provide mental health assessments and support at shelters and transitional housing programs.
$111,725 to support two years of operation of the Arundel House of Hope's new Safe Haven program. It will provide permanent supportive housing for four homeless individuals with disabling conditions.
The funding was a result of the combined efforts of Arundel Community Development Services Inc., the Department of Social Services and members of the Anne Arundel and Annapolis Community Partnership to End Homelessness.
"This award enables the county to undertake a new program and renew its support for existing housing and supportive services benefiting our residents in greatest need -- our families and individuals confronted by economic crisis, or with severe mental illness and other disabilities, which make them unable to cope without public assistance," Leopold said. "Since these monies are awarded through a national competition, I am a pleased to report that Anne Arundel County has been consistently successful in receiving annual awards of these monies."
The funds will become available in July.
DUI/drug court plans a graduation
The Anne Arundel County District Court will hold a graduation celebration for nine participants in its driving under the influence/drug treatment court at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in the district courthouse in Annapolis.
Newly appointed Circuit Judge Michael Wachs will be the speaker. Wachs presided over DUI/drug court when he was a District Court judge.
