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HUD Gives $75 Million To LA Homeless Service Agencies

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The U.S. Department of Housing awarded $74.5 million to local programs that help homeless people and families get basic services and transition to permanent supportive housing throughout Los Angeles County, officials announced Thursday.

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, managed jointly by the city and county of Los Angeles, announced the grant funding, which will go to help sustain services at 225 homeless programs.

The agency said 4,000 people were served last year by programs that try to help individuals break the cycle of homelessness. Almost 90 percent of them became stably housed, according to the agency.

Homeless Services Authority Executive Director Michael Arnold said programs that target homeless veterans, families, and those that arechronically homeless will be the top priority.

County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavksy the money will also help expand small pilot programs that target homeless that are severely disabled or mentally ill and emancipated foster youth.

The money from the Housing and Urban Development's Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Program is part of an annual pool of federal money that agencies compete for to sustain ongoing programs.

The Homeless Services Authority also applied for $14 million in grant funding for new programs. Those awards are expected to be announced in the spring.

"The renewal of supportive housing programs will make our community stronger and get more people back on their feet," Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said.

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