New Jersey groups getting $38 million in federal funding

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Federal housing officials have awarded $38 million in grants to support 272 local homeless housing and service programs in New Jersey.

The "Continuum of Care" grants were announced Monday by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julißn Castro. The money will ensure that the local projects can provide critically needed housing and support services to the homeless.

The 48 cities with grantees include Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, Trenton, Atlantic City, and Toms River.

The local programs getting the competitive grants offer a variety of services to the homeless, including street outreach, client assessment and direct housing assistance. The grants given to the New Jersey providers were part of $1.8 billion in funding awarded by HUD nationwide.

Federal officials say New Jersey has seen a 33% reduction in homelessness since 2007.

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