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Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday announced that she has awarded grants totaling more than $2.5 million to help homeless Alabamians with immediate housing assistance and to help others who are in danger of becoming homeless.

Butler County will be impacted as the Alabama Rural Coalition for the Homeless Inc., which serves the region, will receive $300,000 for its more than 40 counties that it serves.

The funding from the federal Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program will support organizations across the state that provide shelter, legal and health services, as well as financial education for families and individuals without a residence. The ESG program also can assist with moving costs, including rental and utility deposits, for these families.

“While many of us are looking forward to the holidays and spending time with friends and family, we should also remember that some of our fellow Alabamians are struggling to keep a roof over their heads, and others do not have a place to call home at all,” Governor Ivey said. “I am pleased to award these grants to provide needed assistance to many families at a critical time in their lives.”

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, energy conservation, water resource management and recreation development.

“The Emergency Solutions Grant program helps Alabamians avoid homelessness and take steps to become self-sufficient,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA is pleased to join with Gov. Ivey to provide this assistance to local organizations that help families in need.”

The grants were awarded to 13 governments and community agencies that administer the program locally and assess individual needs for those seeking assistance. Individuals or families requesting assistance can contact their local agency directly or may be referred by the program to a local shelter. Case managers screen applicants for program eligibility at the local level.

Below is a list of each amount awarded, the name of the grant recipient and the areas served:

• $300,000 to Alabama Rural Coalition for the Homeless Inc.(Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Butler, Chambers, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Cleburne, Coffee, Conecuh, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, Dallas, Escambia, Fayette, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Lamar, Lee, Macon, Marengo, Marshall, Monroe, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Walker, Washington and Wilcox counties)
• $300,000 to Montgomery Area Coalition for the Homeless Inc.(Autauga, Bullock, Elmore, Lowndes and Montgomery counties)
• $300,000 to United Way of East Central Alabama(Calhoun, Cherokee, DeKalb and Etowah counties)
• $280,599 to 2nd Chance Inc.(domestic violence victims in Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah, Randolph and Talladega counties)
• $214,712 to the city of Florence(Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Marion and Winston counties)
• $200,000 to the city of Huntsville(Huntsville)
• $200,000 to Penelope House Inc.(Mobile)
• $200,000 to the city of Tuscaloosa(Tuscaloosa County)
• $200,000 to YWCA of Central Alabama(Blount, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair and Walker counties)
• $133,786 to the Shelby County Commission(Shelby County)
• $80,000 to Dallas County Family Resource Center(Dallas County)
• $80,000 to Mobile Area Interfaith Conference Inc.(inmates being released from Mobile County Metro Jail)
• $30,000 to Marshall County Home Place (Marshall County)