Shared by our partners at Denver Department of Housing Stability (HOST) and Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI). For details specific to this article, please contact derek.woodbury@denvergov.org or jamie.rife@mdhi.org.
DENVER – Tuesday, January 26, 2021 – Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI), through the support of Mayor Michael B. Hancock, has received $300,000 from the Metropolitan City 2021 CommunityWINS grant to support its Housing Stability Flexible Fund (Flex Fund). The grant, which is administered by the United States Conference of Mayors and Wells Fargo, will support individuals and households who are experiencing homelessness but have an immediate housing opportunity, as well as those at risk of experiencing homelessness.
The grants, totaling $1 million, recognize outstanding mayoral-nominated initiatives that assist their city in reducing the cost burden of housing and increase access to safe, affordable places to live. Each nonprofit will receive funding aimed at assisting cities with the opportunity to invest, strengthen, and address housing affordability issues in municipalities across the United States. Denver is one of eight city and nonprofit partnerships to be awarded one of this year’s grants.
“We’re dedicated to working with our community partners to provide effective, stable paths out of homelessness and into housing stability,” Mayor Michael B. Hancock said. “This is a tremendous win for MDHI and our region, as we work to give providers one more tool to help stabilize our residents and communities, and I am honored to be partnered with MDHI in this wonderful award.”
“This funding is critical in the region’s response to keeping our community safe and stable, particularly in light of economic crisis caused by COVID-19,” said Matt Meyer, Executive Director at MDHI. “The Flex Fund is the last resort for many of our neighbors. We appreciate the partnership of Mayor Hancock and the support of Metro Mayors Caucus in securing this grant.”
An independent panel of judges selected recipients of the grants funded by Wells Fargo from 139 applicants representing small, medium, large, and metropolitan cities as part of the competitive application process. The awards were presented virtually at the Conference’s 89th Winter Meeting on January 22, 2021.
Metro Denver Homeless Initiative’s Flex Fund leverages donations and grants to assist households experiencing housing crises throughout the seven-county Denver Metro region. Established as a regional effort in 2018 with the support of the Metro Mayors Caucus, the fund assisted 139 households and 331 individuals who were experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness in 2019. The Flex Fund, which has a household cap of $3,000, helps pay for expenses like security deposits or first month’s rent; utilities or rent assistance; moving assistance; pet deposits; damage repairs; and other financial barriers to permanent housing. Any organization or provider that partners with OneHome, the region’s Coordinated Entry System that enables organizations to assess and identify the housing and support needs of individuals experiencing homelessness, or is a member of MDHI’s Continuum of Care can submit a request to the Flex Fund on behalf of an eligible household experiencing a housing crisis. More information about eligibility can be found on the MDHI website.
