City of Madison Secures Federal Funds to Keep Families in Homes Family Unification Program Dollars to Help 50 Additional Families

City of Madison Secures Federal Funds to Keep Families in Homes
Family Unification Program Dollars to Help 50 Additional Families


Posted Thursday, August 12, 2010 --- 10:44 a.m.

Release from Office of the Mayor:

City of Madison Secures Federal Funds to Keep Families in Homes

Family Unification Program Dollars to Help 50 Additional Families

Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and Madison’s Community Development Authority (CDA) announced today that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded Madison almost $350,000 for 50 new housing vouchers to keep local families together in their homes.

Forty-two agencies received funding nationwide this year. Madison was one of only 4 agencies selected for funding in both 2009 and 2010. In August of 2009, Madison and Dane County received 100 vouchers.

“In the challenging economic climate we face, this additional federal funding will keep 50 more families together in quality housing,” Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said. “I want to thank HUD for this important funding to help local families in need.”

The Family Unification Program vouchers are part of $20 million in federal funding to support partnerships between public housing agencies and local child welfare agencies to reunite 5,000 children with their parents and provide affordable housing and support to 750 young people leaving foster care. Returning these children home from foster care will save over $140 million in federal child welfare expenditures.

Locally, the vouchers will be used to provide housing assistance to 50 area families and youth aging out of the foster care system. The city will work with Dane County Human Services to distribute vouchers to families whose children have been placed in out-of-home care or are at risk of being removed primarily because of housing challenges.

“Dane County is proud to partner with the city to apply for these dollars and help identify families most in need of this help,” County Executive Kathleen Falk said. “Working together, our efforts will help more families keep roofs over their heads during this economic downturn.”

“Finding and keeping affordable housing is a challenge for many parents and this lack of stability can result in breaking up families and placing children in foster care. The FUP program provides these families and youth aging out of foster care with the services they need,” said Tom Conrad, City Housing Assistance Program Supervisor.

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