Alabamians who have become homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic may soon receive help.

Governor Ivey awarded $22 million to help those who have been left homeless or are on the brink of becoming homeless in Ala. The funds are coming from the federal Emergency Solutions Grant program.

There are 15 regional agencies that the money will be divided between. These agencies provide shelter, legal and health services, as well as other services to individuals and/or families who may be facing the possibility of losing their home. Alabama Rural Coalition for Homeless (ARCH) covers Crenshaw County and has received a $10 million grant from the $22 million Governor Ivey awarded.

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“The ESG CV funds will have a tremendous impact in the 42 ARCH counties,” said Felicia Jackson, executive director for ARCH. “The funding will not be divided equally among the 42 counties. Assistance will be provided to any persons from the 42 counties who meet the eligibility criteria. The program will provide much-needed financial relief for individuals and families who are in arrears with rental payments and it will also provide funding to rehouse those who are homeless or residing with others in overcrowded spaces due to economic hardships.”

The project includes the “HOUSE 507” campaign. ARCH’s goal is to house 507 individuals or families across the 42 counties it covers.

“HOUSE 507 is a collaborative partnership among housing developers and local land lords to provide immediate, safe, and affordable housing to our most vulnerable population,” explained Jackson.

The project will also have a landlord incentive for those landlords who are willing to partner with ARCH on the “HOUSE 507” project. The landlord incentive can provide one to three months security deposit to be used strictly as an incentive and not towards rent payment.

ARCH will partner with local agencies to help implement the program in several counties. Funding for case management and data staff will be provided through the grant and will include a signed partnership agreement.

Persons seeking assistance or landlords willing to partner can contact ARCH at 334-273-0668, M-F 9 AM-5 PM.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, And Economic Security (CARES) Act provided approximately $1.9 billion in funding for the state of Ala.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community affairs will distribute the grants as part of the CARES ACT funding to the following agencies:

• City of Huntsville– $1.8 Million (City of Huntsville)
• Northwest Alabama Housing Services-$117,785 (Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Marion, and Winston Counties)
• City of Florence– $828,300 (Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Marion, Winston, and Lawrence Counties)
• Legal Services Alabama, Inc– $1.5 million (Cherokee, DeKalb and Etowah Counties)
• YWCA of Central Alabama– $114,125 (Blount, Jefferson an St. Clair Counties)
• Shelby County Commission– $219,892 (Shelby County)
• Montgomery Area Coalition for the Homeless Inc.- $1.7 million (Montgomery, Autauga, Elmore, Bullock and Lowndes Counties)
• First Christian Methodist Episcopal Church– $830,632 (Montgomery, and Bullock Counties)
• City of Tuscaloosa– $742,539 (Tuscaloosa County)
• Salvation Army– $448,224 (City of Mobile)
• Family Counseling Center of Mobile Inc. – $710,058 (Baldwin, Clarke, Mobile and Washington Counties)
• Housing First Inc.- $1 million (Mobile and Baldwin Counties)
• Family Promise of Baldwin County Inc.- $993,819 (Baldwin County)
• Penelope House Inc.- $1 million (City of Mobile)
• Alabama Rural Coalition for the Homeless Inc. (ARCH)- $10 Million (Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Butler, Chambers, Chilton, Choctaw, Clark, Clay, Cleburne, Coffee, Conecuh, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, Dallas, Escambia, Fayette, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Lamar, Lee, Macon, Marengo, Marshall, Monroe, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Walker, Washington, and Wilcox Counties)