Almost $10 million in grants help Texans exit homelessness

AUSTIN — The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs awarded $9.8 million in Emergency Solutions Grants to 51 nonprofits, including Advocacy Outreach in Elgin, to help Texans move from housing instability to safe, permanent homes.

Approved by the TDHCA governing board at its Sept. 3 meeting, the ESG funding will assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness or a housing crisis with permanent housing, while also preventing homelessness before it occurs. The grants will be available to communities and organizations Nov. 1.

“These funds serve as a vital resource for some of our most vulnerable Texans, opening the door for many to experience more stable and sustainable housing conditions,” said Bobby Wilkinson, TDHCA Executive Director, in a prepared release. “They give our local partners the tools they need to prevent homelessness and help people quickly regain housing stability.”

Funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the ESG Program strengthens a local community’s ability to move toward greater housing stability and overcome housing crises through a combination of street outreach, emergency shelter operations, homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing assistance.