Tomorrow, the Cities of Champaign and Urbana and the Urbana HOME Consortium will publish the Housing and Homelessness Innovations (HHI) Consolidated Grant Application for agencies that support affordable housing development and homeless services in Champaign County. A total of $5.8 million in grant funds are available to support permanent affordable housing units, homeless shelters, tenant based rental assistance tenant based rental assistance program management, housing navigation, housing gaps, and other services that support homeless populations.
The new consolidated application was developed to streamline the process for applicants who previously needed to complete separate applications for each agency. The consolidated process also allows for a more strategic approach to the allocation of funds to address housing and homeless needs across Champaign-Urbana. Full details, including a link to the grant application can be found at champaignil.gov/HHI. Applications are due by December 12, 2022, and funding decisions are expected to be made in early January 2023.
Those interested in applying are encouraged to attend one of the following informational meetings to learn more about the application process and to ask questions:
- November 4 – 10:00 am – Champaign City Building, 102 N. Neil St., Champaign
- November 28 – 12:30 pm – Urbana Free Library, 210 W. Green St., Urbana
The consolidated application is unique in supporting housing navigation, housing gaps, and other innovative solutions to housing and homelessness. Housing navigation is a supportive service that connects homeless individuals and families to housing units through case management and ongoing engagement as they transition from homeless to housed. Housing gaps is a grant eligibility category that emphasizes innovative approaches to assist homeless or hard to house individuals. Housing gap programs may include the provision of goods, services, processes, or types of housing that cover the need “gap” for unhoused or low income individuals.
The funds available through the consolidated grant application include funding from Champaign local funds, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), and HUD HOME American Rescue Plan (ARP).