Kenyatta announces $215.6K in grants to combat homelessness
Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta September 14, 2020 | 3:43 PM
HARRISBURG, Sept. 14– As the threat of a housing crisis stemming from the pandemic looms, state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila, today announced that state grants totaling $215,600 have been awarded to two local organizations in his 181st District to combat homelessness.
Kenyatta, who is a member of the newly established Democratic Housing Working Group, said the grants will help Drueding Rental Assistance and Prevention Program ($115,600) provide rental and financial assistance to young parent-headed households, and Serenity Court- Medical Respite for Homeless ($100,000) to expand capacity of its current recovery facility which accommodates medically fragile people experiencing homelessness who are recovering from major illnesses, surgery, or COVID-19.
“I’ve been tirelessly working to address the ongoing issue of homelessness through eliminating poverty, prior to the pandemic. Now, I am actively trying to keep more people from losing their homes in the wake of this economic crisis caused by the pandemic,” Kenyatta said. “Combatting homelessness—no matter the cause-- takes a concerted effort among elected officials and advocacy organizations. I am thrilled to see these grants help carry our efforts of ensuring residents can have a place to call home.”
Kenyatta said the grants were distributed by The Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services, which received a grant award of nearly $1.5 million from Home4Good to help those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness by channeling dollars to local service organizations.
Home4Good is an annual funding initiative led by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh and the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.