A new grant program from the city’s Homeless Strategy Office will fund rental assistance and supportive services.

The city of Austin has announced a $2.2 million effort to prevent homelessness, reports Christine Sanchez for Spectrum Local News.
The money will be awarded by the city’s Homeless Strategy Office (HSO) as up to three contracts to nonprofits or government agencies that provide rental assistance and supportive services.
“Funding homeless prevention programs is one of the most effective, economical, and ethical investments we can make, because we are stopping homelessness before it starts.” — David Gray City of Austin Homeless Strategy Officer
The HSO was created in 2023 and “defines its mission as making homelessness rare, brief and nonrecurring by helping people achieve stable housing situations to avoid homelessness.”
FULL STORY: City of Austin announces $2.2 million homelessness prevention fund

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