The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced this year's Supportive Housing Program Awards. Wisconsin will receive $6,064,671

Supportive housing funds are used to provide transitional and permanent housing for homeless persons. The Department of Commerce (Commerce) coordinates the requests of over 50 agencies across the state. This year's award will fund activities involving 31 agencies.

Commerce will receive $364,487 to support state data bases, including Service Point, Community Point and Housing Point; which track these services. Commerce will also receive $219,000 for shelter-plus-care grants administered by the Bureau of Supportive Housing.

This year's $6 million award is the largest Commerce has ever received, and a tribute to the leadership of Judy Wilcox, section chief in the Bureau of Supportive Housing. Since 1998, she and her team have brought more than $5 million a year to Wisconsin for transitional and permanent housing assistance for homeless persons. Local agencies contract directly with HUD for their funds.

-- Jim O'Keefe

The newsletter is issued electronically every other month.

Please send comments or questions to Barbro McGinn, editor.