More than $2 million in federal grant money will be distributed among local community programs that help the homeless.
The U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development on Wednesday awarded a total of $2.3 million to 17 homeless housing and service programs in Lackawanna County as part of its initiative to reduce and end homelessness.
Provided through its Continuum of Care program, the department awarded $82.7 million to 467 homeless supportive programs statewide to continue cutting homelessness - which dropped 2.4 percent in Pennsylvania in 2012.
Among the beneficiaries of the funding is the United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania, which received about $800,000, executive director Michael Hanley said.
"We are very pleased," Mr. Hanley said. "It's a little more than we usually get."
Based in Scranton, the organization offers many programs, including permanent supportive housing, family reunification housing and transitional housing.
Of the estimated $800,000 the organization received, about $300,000 is earmarked for the permanent supportive housing programs, which provides "case management" to chronically homeless individuals and families, Mr. Hanley said.
"These programs are critical because they reduce the number of homeless out on the streets and provide safety nets for families on the bottom rungs," Mr. Hanley said.
Among the other organizations that received a share of the $2.3 million are Catholic Social Services, $307,473; St. Joseph's Mother Infant Program, $103,328; and the Women's Resource Center, 128,753.
Contact the writer: miorfino@timesshamrock.com, @miorfinoTT on Twitter