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New York state awarded nearly $6 million to Catholic Charities of Onondaga County, a local agency providing services such as shelter, food pantries and financial assistance, Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a press release Tuesday.

The funding is part of a larger initiative from Hochul that allocated $17.3 million in state funding to provide both permanent and emergency housing for people experiencing homelessness.

Some emergency housing in Syracuse will be relocated, the release read. The $5.94 million provided by the state government to the agency will rehabilitate space in Syracuse for 80 beds of emergency housing.

Michael Melara, the executive director of Catholic Charities of Onondaga County, said there is a need in Syracuse to ensure those experiencing homelessness have housing that is safe and stable.

“This funding from the state’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program is critical to its success and will allow us to continue to serve those in need of emergency shelter and assistance in securing permanent housing,” Melara said in the release.

Catholic Charities of Onondaga County’s rehabilitation project is one of six programs that was awarded by the state on Tuesday.

The largest amount of money allocated went to Barrier Free Living Incorporated, located in New York City, which received $6 million from the state. The organization will be constructing a building with 44 units of permanent supportive housing.

Many New Yorkers who have some level of housing instability also experience substance use disorders or serious mental illness, Hochul said.

“New York is working to address the root issues that either cause or contribute to homelessness and start these individuals and their families on the road to long-term housing stability,” Hochul said in the press release.

Hochul’s proposed budget for 2023 also included $25 billion to expand access to affordable housing and reduce homelessness over the next five years.

In the Catholic Charities of Onondaga County’s 2020 annual report, the organization reported just under $13.8 million of its revenue, or 63%, came from government support. During 2020, the organization provided emergency shelter for over 500 people.

In the report, Syracuse University Government and Community Relations was listed as a sustaining supporter, meaning that it donated anywhere from $1,000 to $4,999.

“We are thankful for the support this project is receiving through Governor Hochul, who has made addressing and reducing homelessness throughout our state a priority of her administration,” Melara said.

Published on February 16, 2022 at 11:51 pm

Contact Kyle: kschouin@syr.edu | @Kyle_Chouinard