WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is making available $1.43 billion in homeless assistance grants to thousands of local projects that house and serve homeless persons and families across the country. In its funding announcement, HUD notified applicants that it will quickly award renewal grants to prevent any interruption in federal assistance to existing local programs while awarding funds to new projects later in the year. To read the full text of the funding notice, visit HUD's website.

"The grants we offer today will help to house and serve thousands of our neediest neighbors," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "HUD is committed to streamlining this grant process to make certain these funds are awarded as quickly as possible so they can make a real difference to individuals and families struggling against the backdrop of our economic crisis."

HUD's official Notice of Funding Availability offers grants through the Department's Continuum of Care homeless assistance programs. For the second year, HUD is requiring all grant applications to be submitted through its e-snaps system (electronic-special needs assistance programs system). While last year was considered an overwhelmingly successful launch of e-snaps, the Department continues to make significant improvements to ensure applicants can access a more user-friendly submission portal and to accelerate the grant awarding process.

Earlier this year, HUD allocated an additional $1.5 billion through its new Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing (HPRP) Program. Made possible through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, HPRP is intended to prevent persons from falling into homelessness or to rapidly re-house them if they do.

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HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to sustaining homeownership; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development ad enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.