PORTSMOUTH, Va. - U.S. Housing and Urban Development announced that $303,389 has been awarded to the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
HUD says this funding will make 36 vouchers available for families who are unable to secure affordable housing for their children or dependents, and former foster youth at risk of homelessness.
This grant is apart of the $24.4 million nationwide grant to provide vouchers through the Family Unification Program.
Housing authorities will work closely with local public welfare agencies to identify former foster youth at risk of facing homelessness and families who were forced to place their children in foster care due to housing.
Additionally, this funding can be used to help provide stable housing for young adults who have grown out of the foster care system and at risk of homelessness.
These vouchers will allow families to rent housing from a private landlord and generally pay 30 percent of their monthly adjusted gross income towards rent and utilities.
On average, it costs more than $48,000 annually per family when children enter foster care. However, according to HUD to keep a family together costs approximately $15,000 annually per family.
