The Pa Cares Program, officially known as the Emergency Solutions Grant CARES Act (ESG-CV), provided crucial funding to combat homelessness in Pennsylvania during the COVID-19 pandemic. This program, funded through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020, offered financial assistance to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the pandemic’s impact on individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
The ESG-CV program built upon the existing Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program authorized by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. It provided two allocations of funding to address the urgent needs arising from the pandemic. Pennsylvania, through the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), received a significant second allocation of $19,930,907, distributed based on a HUD formula considering factors like the total homeless population, unsheltered individuals, and very low-income renters facing overcrowding or lacking essential amenities.
How PA CARES Funds Were Used
The PA CARES program supported a wide range of activities designed to alleviate homelessness and mitigate the effects of the pandemic. These activities, outlined in the Emergency Solutions Grant Interim Rule and Notice CPD 20-08, included:
- Emergency Shelter: Providing immediate shelter for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
- Temporary Emergency Shelter: Offering short-term shelter options.
- Rapid Rehousing: Assisting individuals and families in quickly securing permanent housing.
- Homelessness Prevention: Providing resources to prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless.
- Landlord Incentives: Encouraging landlords to rent to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
Furthermore, the program covered crucial support services like:
- Street Outreach: Connecting with unsheltered individuals to offer assistance.
- Hazard Pay: Providing additional compensation for essential workers serving the homeless population.
- Homeless Management Information System (HMIS): Supporting data collection and management related to homelessness.
- Administration: Covering administrative costs associated with program implementation.
Who Was Eligible for PA CARES Funding?
The PA CARES program accepted applications from various entities, including:
- Local Governments: Cities, boroughs, townships, counties, and home rule municipalities. They could apply directly or on behalf of non-profit organizations.
- Non-profit Organizations: Eligible for regional projects serving multiple counties, demonstrating a broader need beyond a single county’s boundaries. DCED defines “regional” as encompassing more than one county.
Key Details about PA CARES Funding
- Minimum Award: $25,000 with no maximum award limit.
- Matching Funds: No matching funds were required for ESG-CV awards. This made the program particularly accessible to organizations with limited resources. A dedicated portion of the funding, $2,997,961, was allocated to a Code Blue program, providing critical winter shelter during the 2020-2021 season. The remaining $16,932,946 was available through the application process described above. The primary goal of the PA CARES program was to rapidly and efficiently address homelessness for all vulnerable populations.
Conclusion
The PA CARES program played a vital role in supporting Pennsylvanians experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. By providing substantial funding and encompassing a wide range of eligible activities, the program facilitated crucial services and resources to prevent and address homelessness across the Commonwealth. The program’s flexible funding structure and lack of matching requirements further enhanced its impact, allowing a broader range of organizations to participate and effectively serve vulnerable populations.
