DOVER – Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) and Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank Pittsburgh) announced today $1.2 million in Home4Good funding awarded to programs across the state working to reduce homelessness. DSHA provided $500,000 toward the effort, and FHLBank Pittsburgh provided $700,000.
The funding will be used to address four key areas: homelessness prevention, homelessness diversion, rapid re-housing and innovation. Sixteen programs from 11 organizations in the state will receive funding.
“FHLBank Pittsburgh’s ongoing partnership with DSHA continues to make a meaningful difference in the well-being of the neighborhoods we serve and the lives of our neighbors who live there,” said Winthrop Watson, FHLBank Pittsburgh’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Thanks to the support of our member institutions, more than $7 million in Home4Good grants will be directed to local service organizations throughout Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.”
Home4Good was created in 2018 by FHLBank Pittsburgh and is being administered by DSHA. The funding announced today is being distributed as grants to organizations that help individuals retain or find housing, provide supportive services to those facing homelessness or address other unmet needs within the existing homeless provider network. This is the second year of funding in the Home4Good program.
“DSHA is once again pleased to be a part of the Home4Good initiative supporting organizations who are working to reduce homelessness in Delaware,” said DSHA Director Anas Ben Addi. “This funding will allow the organizations to provide financial assistance and other services to help Delawareans facing homelessness remain in their homes or find stable housing for those who are currently homeless.”
West End Neighborhood House received two Home4Good grants this year. The first award for homelessness prevention totals $75,000 and will be used to support the organization’s Statewide Security Deposit Loan Program. The second award of $60,000 will be used beginning January 1, 2020 to provide support for ex-offenders returning to society who are facing difficulty finding safe, affordable housing.
“For over 100 years, West End has helped Delawareans meet their housing needs,” said Executive Director Paul F. Calistro, Jr. “With this funding, we are pleased to pilot a program that will assist individuals who are re-entering our community from the criminal justice system. Through the pilot program, we will help approximately 40 individuals secure short-term housing in an effort to reduce recidivism and increase their ability to gain and maintain employment as they become self-sufficient.”
Family Promise of Northern New Castle County will use a $100,000 Home4Good grant from this round of funding to assist in the organization’s rapid re-housing efforts, and a second award of $50,000 for its homelessness diversion work.
“Family Promise is so appreciative of the Home4Good funding assistance,” said Executive Director Cheryl Christiansen. “This funding is instrumental to providing financial assistance for families, allowing them to quickly get into stable housing and minimizing the trauma that goes along with the experience of homelessness.”
YWCA Delaware also received two Home4Good grants in this latest round of funding. The first award of $100,000 will be used for rapid re-housing efforts in New Castle County, and the second award of $50,000 will assist the nonprofit organization in its homelessness diversion efforts in New Castle County and Kent County.
“Home4Good funding gives us more tools to prevent homelessness and to re-house families who do not need the intensity of support services provided through the shelter system,” said Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Staats. “YWCA Delaware appreciates its partnership with Home4Good and the ability it gives us to address the individual needs of families to ensure they are housed safely, quickly and with dignity.”
Information about Home4Good is available at www.fhlb-pgh.com and at www.destatehousing.com. Organizations interested in future participation in the program can contact Kate Swanson at katherine.swanson@fhlb-pgh.com or Jessica Eisenbrey at jessica@destatehousing.com for details.
The Home4Good funding recipients are:
| Focus Area | Organization | Target Area | Funding Amount |
| Rapid Re-Housing | |||
| Catholic Charities | Kent County, Sussex County | $75,000 | |
| Family Promise of Northern New Castle County | New Castle County | $100,000 | |
| Ministry of Caring, Inc. | New Castle County | $100,000 | |
| YWCA of Delaware | New Castle County | $100,000 | |
| Homelessness Diversion | |||
| Family Promise of Northern New Castle County | New Castle County | $50,000 | |
| Ministry of Caring, Inc. | New Castle County | $50,000 | |
| YWCA of Delaware | New Castle County, Kent County | $50,000 | |
| Homelessness Prevention | |||
| Catholic Charities | Statewide | $75,000 | |
| Lutheran Community Services | New Castle County | $75,000 | |
| Rehoboth Community Resource Center | Kent County, Sussex County | $75,000 | |
| Salvation Army | New Castle County | $50,000 | |
| West End Neighborhood House | Statewide | $75,000 | |
| Innovation | |||
| Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. | Statewide | $200,000 | |
| New Castle County Department of Community Services | New Castle County | $30,000 | |
| Sussex Community Crisis Housing Services | Sussex County | $35,000 | |
| West End Neighborhood House | Statewide | $60,000 |