HUD Awards Arlington $3 Million for Homelessness Efforts

Published on February 07, 2024

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded more than $3 million in competitive funding to Arlington County's Continuum of Care (CoC) for Homelessness. Arlington’s Department of Human Services (DHS) serves as the lead for the CoC and coordinates and facilitates submission of this application and related, year-long activities.

These CoC grants will support the County’s and community nonprofits’ efforts to quickly assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness in attaining permanent housing, and the critical supportive services to support maintaining housing long term. This Housing First approach prioritizes a foundation for people’s well-being and reduces the impacts of trauma caused by homelessness.

Doorways for Women and Families also received new funding ($101,208) to expand a Rapid Rehousing project for survivors of domestic violence. All other existing projects, including Rapid Rehousing and Permanent Supportive Housing operated by Bridges to Independence, New Hope Housing, and PathForward received renewed funding, totaling $2,986,818. More details are listed below.

"We strive to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring," said Arlington County Department of Human Services Director Anita Friedman. "The competitive nature of these awards confirms that our strategic planning, policy development, and service delivery continue to be effective. I commend the work of Arlington’s CoC – which is an exceptional partnership that includes County staff, non-profit partners, and people with lived experience."

HUD grant funding provides critical resources designed to assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness, particularly the most vulnerable households who would otherwise be living in places not meant for habitation or residing in emergency shelters. These funds are awarded through a competitive process held across the country. Localities must successfully demonstrate need as well as strong results that lead to year-over-year improvements in preventing and ending homelessness.

About the Continuum of Care

The Arlington County Continuum of Care (CoC), a core network of interconnected programs and services, has spent over a decade strengthening its crisis response system to prevent homelessness at every opportunity and resolve it by swiftly connecting individuals and families to permanent housing. The CoC works in alignment with state and federal resources and partners working to address homelessness at the regional and national levels.

Arlington's CoC develops strategies and assists people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness. The CoC works toward the shared goals of preventing homelessness before it occurs and returning individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness to stable housing as quickly as possible.

Guided by its values, mission, and it’s Strategic Plan to Prevent & End Homelessness (A Way Home for All), the CoC is working to end homelessness for all by 2026.

HUD CoC Homeless Assistance Award Report for Federal FY 2023