Nixon announces $1.3 million to be provided to homeless, domestic violence shelters

(From Gov. Jay Nixon)

Gov. Jay Nixon announced today that Missouri homeless service providers, including emergency and domestic violence shelters, will receive $1.3 million to help bridge a gap caused by reductions in federal funding. The new funding will be provided by the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) and the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS).

“Missouri’s network of shelters provides safe haven for thousands of domestic violence survivors, as well as provide housing solutions for the homeless in both rural and urban communities across the state,” Gov. Nixon said. “We will take the steps necessary to ensure that funding to the shelters is not reduced, even in the face of these federal cuts.”

Federal funding for the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program, administered by MHDC, was cut this year. This deficiency, coupled with newly implemented federal regulations placing a greater emphasis on permanent housing solutions, has resulted in less funding being available for emergency shelter services in 2014.

At Gov. Nixon’s request, the Office of Administration, along with DSS and MHDC, has identified a multi-year, long-term solution to bridge the funding gap caused by the federal cuts.

The funding solution announced today by Gov. Nixon will include more than $500,000 for domestic violence shelters from DSS through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Another $800,000 for homeless service providers will be made available from MHDC through other existing funds. These resources will be available in future years, providing a long-term, stable solution for emergency shelters, domestic violence shelters and other homeless service providers. The proposal for the MHDC share of the funding will be presented to the MHDC board for approval at its March 14 meeting.

“It is critical that Missouri keeps the safety net of shelters available to domestic violence survivors and our state’s homeless,” said Attorney General Chris Koster, a member of the Missouri Housing Development Commission. “I appreciate Governor Nixon’s quick action in identifying resources to keep the doors open at these shelters.”

“I support Governor Nixon's efforts to work with housing commission members to implement a plan that will provide crucial funding for emergency and domestic violence shelters,” said Treasurer Clint Zweifel, also a member of MHDC. “I look forward to working with the Governor and my fellow commission members to address this issue and begin creating a long-term solution for these shelters next week.”