By Samantha McGirr
The Public Press
San Franciscans struggling to find or keep housing just got a helping hand from the federal government in the form of nearly $9 million in grant money.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has granted the city $8.75 million in stimulus funds as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program.
The grant is intended to provide short-term assistance to citizens on the verge of eviction, as well as homeless individuals looking for housing and a job. Applicants can receive up to three months of full rent assistance or 18 months of partial rent assistance through the program, which also can cover things such as security and utility deposits, utility payments, moving assistance and hotel costs.
Applicants cannot receive the money directly; rather, it must be paid out to third parties such as landlords or utility companies.
About $1.5 billion is going into this program across the country. Although San Francisco is known for its tough stance on homelessness, Mayor Gavin Newsom argues that, with this move, the city is looking out for everyone’s best interests.
“Keeping individuals off the streets, and helping families get through hard times, goes a long way in facilitating our economic recovery,” Newsom said.
