UWDC AWARDED FIRST-TIME GRANT IN FIGHT VS. HOMELESSNESS
Receives close to $124,000 to fund supportive services to improve coordination of homeless resources.
United Way of Denton County (UWDC), in partnership with its collaborative initiative the Denton County Homelessness Leadership Team, was recently awarded a first-time grant of $123,926 to support the local fight against homelessness. The grant will help improve coordination of homeless services and communication between providers in Denton County, as well as support continued expansion of the Coordinated Entry System to better serve people experiencing homelessness throughout the community.
Awarded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development through the Texas Balance of State Continuum of Care, this grant is the first of its kind to be awarded in Denton County. The Texas Balance of State Continuum of Care is a group “made up of all service providers, advocates, local government officials, and citizens who work to eliminate homelessness in 215 of Texas’ 254 counties.” (Texas Homeless Network) Denton County is the first community in Texas to receive this type of funding, which is separate from the Emergency Solutions Grant received by local nonprofits in collaboration with the City of Denton.
Since October of 2016, UWDC and the Denton County Homelessness Leadership Team have facilitated the development, implementation, and continuous planning of a Coordinated Entry System (CES) in use by a county-wide network of shelters and service providers. Data from CES launched the Homelessness Data Dashboard which provides an online up-to-date overview of families, individuals, and students across Denton County experiencing homelessness.
Community partners identified a lack of accessible and affordable housing and limited case management capacity as barriers to getting and keeping people housed. Housing providers are primarily located in Denton and Lewisville, the two largest cities within the county, limiting the community’s ability to reach populations in rural areas. The grant from HUD will support the expansion of the CES throughout the county and the efficient placement of households identified through CE into permanent housing.
Hats Off to Dr. Seuss
Our staff, board, and other friends were spotted in classrooms across Denton ISD for Read Across America Day on March 1st as we celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday by reading his classic books to students.
International Women’s Day
A sea of purple circulated the halls at United Way of Denton County as staff and women from our Executive Board lived #WomenUnited to commemorate International Women’s Day.