Our guest blogger today is Mercedes Mãrquez, Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development

This time of year can really run up our energy bills but the falling temperatures are especially hard on those without a home – families facing a sudden financial crisis or individuals experiencing long-term chronic homelessness.

Today, HUD is awarding $1.4 billion in grants to keep nearly 7,000 local homeless assistance programs operating in the coming year.  These grants form a critical foundation for the Obama Administration’s Opening Doors strategy, the nation’s first comprehensive plan to prevent and end homelessness.  Preventing and ending all forms of homelessness is a daunting challenge to be sure.  But it can be done!  Read how. 

There is a tremendous need on our streets and in our shelters among those experiencing both long-term homelessness as well as families confronting a sudden economic crisis.  These grants are the life blood for thousands of local housing and service programs that are doing the heavy lifting to meet President Obama’s goal of ending homelessness.

 Next week, thousands of volunteers in nearly every city  and county will conduct a national one-night count of homeless persons and families to document trends in homelessness that are crucial to local planners’ efforts to prevent and end homelessness in their areas. Find out how you can help at www.hud.gov/homelesscount

 To read more about the grants announced today, visit HUD’s website.