ITHACA - A more than $2 million federal stimulus grant awarded by New York State will support a collaborative approach to target the problem of homelessness in Tompkins County.

The New York State Office of Temporary Disability and Assistance Bureau of Housing and Shelter Services has awarded a 22-month grant in the amount of $2,430,000 to a community coalition made up of the Tompkins County Department of Social Services, Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County, Tompkins Community Action, and Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga, working together as part of the county's Continuum of Care.

The award comes from federal stimulus funds allocated to the State by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The local program will utilize a multi-agency team approach to provide a comprehensive set of program services to serve both the homeless and those at-risk of becoming homeless, an effort expected to benefit more than 500 local households.  Services supported will include homelessness prevention, rental assistance, and re-housing case management for individuals and families.  Program participants also will be linked to support services to help them regain employment and self-sufficiency.