In these days of visible homelessness in Haiti under circumstances of extreme duress, it is good to hear of some breakthroughs in preventing homelessness in the US.  Read about how short term assistance for rent supports and re-housing initiatives is helping 100’s of thousands in the US.

http://www.pantagraph.com/business/article_49c32b6a-022f-11df-a4b9-001cc4c03286.html

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In rural communities and urban areas alike, one of the least expensive and most unheralded new initiatives of the stimulus bill is quietly saving hundreds of thousands of Americans from homelessness.

Now housing advocates want Congress to boost the program’s $1.5 billion funding as the vast need for more assistance becomes evident nationwide.

The Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program is expected to help 600,000 people by moving some from homeless shelters into their own apartments and by providing rent payments to prevent others from being evicted.

Because the assistance is temporary — usually for three months to 18 months — the program tries to target people who are most in need and who can return to self-sufficiency within a few months.

more ….  http://www.pantagraph.com/business/article_49c32b6a-022f-11df-a4b9-001cc4c03286.html