HUD, CFO grants help local causes

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Community Foundation of the Ozarks separately announced grants to help those in need in the Springfield area.

Continuum of Care
HUD announced earlier this month $1.95 billion in Continuum of Care grants for nearly 7,600 homeless assistance programs across the country.

Of that, $901,775 was earmarked for projects in the Ozarks, according to the government agency.

“The investments being made through these grants are absolutely critical to sustaining and building upon the progress communities are making toward ending homelessness,” said Matthew Doherty, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, in the release.

The majority of the local funding, $662,072, went to The Kitchen Inc. for the nonprofit’s permanent housing, chronic permanent supportive housing, veterans, families and youth programs. The remainder was awarded to:
    •    Shelter Plus Care-Springfield, $147,977 for shelter services;
    •    Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri, $65,160 for a rehousing project; and
    •    the city of Springfield, $26,566 for homeless project planning.

Play, Learn, Grow
CFO yesterday announced $20,000 in Play, Learn, Grow Early Childhood grants to four providers.

The early childhood funding will help the organizations buy playground equipment for pre-K programs serving low-income families. This is the first year CFO has offered Play, Learn, Grow grants funding families that qualify for child care subsidies or free or reduced lunches, according to the release.

The recipients, which each received $5,000, were:
    •    Developmental Center of the Ozarks Early Childhood Center for infant and toddler equipment;
    •    Life 360 Early Childhood Center at The Fairbanks for indoor and outdoor equipment to promote hands-on learning;
    •    Lighthouse Child & Family Development Center at Turning Point Church for outdoor equipment to stimulate motor-skill development and indoor equipment for group activities; and
    •    Springfield Public Schools’ Shady Dell Early Childhood Center for outdoor cognitive, social-emotional, physical, gross motor and fine motor equipment.