Efforts to reduce chronic homelessness in Utah will continue with help from a federal money match announced Thursday. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency that administers AmeriCorps, announced that Salt Lake County will be one of 10 communities nationwide to become part of the agency’s new Operation AmeriCorps initiative.
"I salute Salt Lake County for its visionary program that will have a significant impact on the community and its residents who are homeless or facing homelessness,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “Through Operation AmeriCorps, Salt Lake County will continue transforming the lives of residents and providing economic opportunities that will strengthen the community.”
The CNCS investment includes $680,586 in AmeriCorps funding over two years, contingent on appropriations and performance. As part of the initiative matching money from private and government agencies in Utah will advance the Housing First . When the program began in 2006 it was estimated that caring for Utah's chronic homeless population was costing $20,000 per person for services. Utah Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox said that cost has been reduced by half now that Salt Lake County is working with private donors to provide housing for the state's homeless.
"Suddenly you had an opportunity then to help them deal with these other issues that were holding them back and really keeping them homeless and then they can become much more productive members of society," said Cox.
Prior to the program service organization were focused on helping the homeless receive mental health care, substance abuse prevention and job training before finding a home.
“We know – because the data shows us – that job placement, job training, and access to childcare creates a path towards security and self-reliance for some homeless individuals,” said Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams. “The Operation AmeriCorps grant will bolster Salt Lake County’s efforts to work collectively, across agencies, towards a common goal of getting homeless individuals and families off the streets and into safe homes.”
Beginning in fall 2015 a combined total of $1.6 million will be distributed as part of the two year AmeriCorps program. A portion of the money will be used in Salt Lake County to work with area nonprofits to support 50 additional AmeriCorps members .These full-time AmeriCorps positions provide a living allowance, training, health coverage and a $5,730 college scholarship. AmeriCorps members will also be working to serve Utah's veterans.
"We are really very near the finish line in Utah with the work we have been doing to end chronic homelessness," said McAdams. "And we are focusing on our region goal to end veteran homelessness this year to help them connect our veterans to the services that will support them and help to keep them off the street."
Salt Lake County, through its Community Resources and Development Division, will work with area nonprofits to support AmeriCorps members who will provide direct services focused on housing and job placement, as well as access to medical, health, child care, and employment services. AmeriCorps VISTA members will recruit, train, and manage additional volunteers, collect and analyze data, and work with other social service agencies to identify resources that would enable homeless and formerly homeless to access critical services.
Salt Lake County is the sixth organization in the nation to receive Operation AmeriCorps funding. The initiative was launched by CNCS last fall for local and tribal governments to use national service as a transformative catalyst to address a high priority community challenge. Previously announced Operation AmeriCorps grantees include New York City; Tucson, AZ; Flint, MI; Pawtucket, RI; and Bloomfield, Iowa. Additional Operation AmeriCorps grantees will be announced later this month.
