Gainesville and Alachua County's 10-year plan to end homelessness, which is in its third year, will be assisted by more than ,800,000 worth of federal grants.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will provide eight grants to the Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry, totaling ,821,693 - more than double the funds given for 2007, according to a news release.
"For some reason, they've given us a little bit more than we've requested," said Jim Wright, the coalition's executive director. "I have no idea why, but it's nice."
The coalition includes organizations in Alachua, Putnam, Bradford and Levy counties. Last year, HUD gave the coalition about ,407,000, Wright said.
The grants are part of HUD's "Continuum of Care" program and will primarily benefit veterans, single women and abuse victims.
The Alachua County Housing Authority was the largest recipient, Wright said. The Housing Authority will receive ,255,000 to provide housing for female veterans and domestic abuse victims, and ,20,000 for its Homeless Management Information System, a computer system that tracks homeless people and services.
The Housing Authority has not received any grants from the program for the past two years, said Gail Monahan, the organization's executive director.
The housing grant will supplement a program that currently provides 21 single-person residences, paying for four more for the next 10 years.
"That's a few more people we can help," Monahan said. "Slow and steady wins the race."
The other six grants were renewals for programs that already receive HUD funding regularly, though not all organizations received more funding than usual.
Cheryl Wedgwood, of VETSPACE, said she did not receive any increase in funding for her programs, which provide rent vouchers and transitional housing to veterans.
Still, she said, the programs will continue to make progress toward ending homelessness.
