WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) released the following statement announcing that $33,452,847 in Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) were awarded to Nevada. This allocation of funds follows a call for immediate release of the remaining ESG program funds that the CARES Act authorized, along with the issuance of guidance for use of the funds from Senator Rosen and Senate colleagues. These funds will help individuals and families who are homeless or receiving homeless assistance prepare for and respond to the coronavirus pandemic. The funds will also support additional homeless assistance and homelessness prevention activities to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. One of the most at-risk groups for transmission of coronavirus are homeless individuals.
“We must take every step to ensure that all Nevadans are properly protected during the coronavirus pandemic,” said Senator Rosen. “I am glad to see that following my call for immediate release of ESG program funds, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has released this much-needed funding that will be used to ensure the health and safety of vulnerable Nevadans. I will continue working to ensure that Nevada receives its fair share of federal resources as we continue to weather the economic storm caused by the pandemic.”
BACKGROUND: Recently, Senator Rosen joined Senate colleagues in a bipartisan letter calling on U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson to take action and work quickly to allocate all remaining Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program funds provided by the CARES Act and publish comprehensive guidance for both programs so that state and local government know how they can use the money.
In March, Senator Rosen sent a letter to Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Chairman Crapo and Ranking Member Brown asking them to support waiving the public services cap for CDBG funds during the pandemic, in the next COVID relief package. This regulatory change was included in the bipartisan Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which Senator Rosen voted in support of, and was signed into law on March 27, 2020.
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