Emergency housing vouchers are on the way thanks, in part to funding from the American Rescue Plan. This week, The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced the first round of funding to help those facing homelessness. Specifically, the award of $1.1 billion is funding more than 70,000 EHV’s. Moreover, the vouchers are going to 626 public housing authorities participating in the Housing Choice Voucher program. You can find a complete list of the awards here.

HUD secretary Marcia L. Fudge says, “Addressing our nation’s homelessness crisis is a top priority.” In addition, Fudge says “With COVID-19 still a threat and with the sweltering summer months just around the corner, the $1.1 billion in emergency housing vouchers comes at a critical time in our efforts to get people experiencing homelessness off the streets and into safe, stable homes.”

Furthermore, this award is the first of many. The American Rescue Plan awarded HUD $5 billion for vouchers to give to public housing authorities. Notably, the emergency housing vouchers are going to communities that need them most. In particular, the EHV’s are going to diverse households in both urban and rural areas. Secretary Fudge goes on to say, “Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, communities now have the robust resources they need to make significant progress toward ending homelessness.”

You can learn more about HUD’s efforts to address homelessness, youth homelessness, and the affordable housing crisis here. Another key point of this announcement is that the emergency housing vouchers go beyond helping the homeless or those at risk of being homeless. The funding will also be used to help those fleeing domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, as well as human trafficking.