Lee Commissioners accept $1.8 million grant to help people who are homeless due to Hurricane Ian

The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted to accept a federal grant of more than $1.8 million to assist individuals or families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness due to Hurricane Ian or another natural disaster.

The funding is through Emergency Solutions Grant Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing  entitlement grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development  for fiscal year 2023-2024 budget.

Hurricane Ian made landfall in Lee County on Sept. 28, 2022. The Lee Board of County Commissioners remains committed to supporting recovery efforts throughout the county.

The funds accepted will fill a gap in federal disaster assistance for people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. People experiencing pre-disaster homelessness have very limited eligibility for FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance.

FEMA does not provide long-term housing assistance, and as a result when short-term FEMA assistance ends, many displaced people are at risk of long-term homelessness. After disasters, the cost of rent often increases, adding an additional barrier to available housing.

ESG RUSH funds will fill this gap in assistance, giving communities much-needed resources to provide long-term housing solutions for people experiencing pre-disaster homelessness and to prevent long-term homelessness among newly displaced people.

The funding addresses housing and service needs for persons who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Lee County, as identified in the Homeless Continuum of Care Strategic Plan.