The Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition will receive a large grant to support rapid rehousing and shelter for the local homeless community. The $2.5 million grant will go directly to local agencies that provide relief to the homeless in Chattanooga and 10 surrounding rural counties.
The funding for this award comes from the Emergency Solutions Grants program, which aims to help people quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness.
This special allocation of ESG funds falls under the Tennessee CARES Act, a $2.36 billion relief fund signed by Gov. Bill Lee in response to the COVID-19 economic crisis.
A federal directive has put a moratorium on all rental evictions in 2020, but that is coming to an end Dec. 31, and millions of Tennesseans could find themselves in a housing crisis, says Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition executive director Wendy Winters.
“This program allows for landlord incentives, such as double deposits and support services, to be used to recruit compassionate property owners to help us out in a tight housing market,” Winters says. “Due to increasing rents and a housing shortage, our partner agencies have struggled with being able to find affordable housing for those in need, even when resources are in place to help, and so these landlord incentives will open new doors.”
The Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition applies for federal and state funding to be distributed to local agencies that provide relief and advocacy for the homeless community.
For these agencies to receive a portion of this ESG, applications are to be submitted through thda.org/government-nonprofit-partners/emergencysolution-grants-esg-program.
The deadline is Jan. 15.
The Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition serves as the coordinating agency of Southeast Tennessee’s homeless response system.
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Source: Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition