Gary council asked to tweak grant budget for homeless
By Michelle L. Quinn Post-Tribune correspondent January 8, 2013 9:44PM
Updated: February 10, 2013 5:56PM
GARY — The Common Council will consider an amendment to the 2011-12 Emergency Solutions Grant budget at its Tuesday meeting.
The program, funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, is aimed at helping the homeless through street outreach, emergency shelters, homelessness prevention, rapid rehousing assistance and data collection.
Adrienne Yates, with the city’s Community Development department, told Finance Committee Chairwoman Mary Brown that the department received an additional $90,366 from the ESG program. Among the changes to the budget are an $18,738 increase for administrative costs and a $34,000 increase to a $112,400 Rapid Rehousing contractual maintenance agreement.
An additional $5,000 was given toward another contractual maintenance agreement, according to the budget.
“This money provides a direct service to the homeless by providing the shelters with funding,” Brown said. “We don’t hand out the funds to people to use directly.”
The Common Council meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday in City Hall Council Chambers.
