DSHA and FHLBank Pittsburgh Announce Home4Good Funding Awards

$1.2 million Initiative Targets Homelessness in Delaware

WILMINGTON, DE – Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) and Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank Pittsburgh) announced today $1.2 million in Home4Good funding awarded to programs across the state working to reduce homelessness. DSHA provided $500,000 toward the effort, and FHLBank Pittsburgh provided $700,000.

The funding will be used to address four key areas: homelessness prevention, homelessness diversion, rapid re-housing and innovation. Sixteen programs from 11 organizations in the state will receive funding.

“FHLBank Pittsburgh’s ongoing partnership with DSHA continues to make a meaningful difference in the well-being of the neighborhoods we serve and the lives of our neighbors who live there,” said Winthrop Watson, FHLBank Pittsburgh’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Thanks to the support of our member institutions, more than $7 million in Home4Good grants will be directed to local service organizations throughout Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.”

Home4Good was created in 2018 by FHLBank Pittsburgh and is being administered by DSHA. The funding announced today is being distributed as grants to organizations that help individuals retain or find housing, provide supportive services to those facing homelessness or address other unmet needs within the existing homeless provider network. This is the second year of funding in the Home4Good program.

“DSHA is once again pleased to be a part of the Home4Good initiative supporting organizations who are working to reduce homelessness in Delaware,” said DSHA Director Anas Ben Addi. “This funding will allow the organizations to provide financial assistance and other services to help Delawareans facing homelessness remain in their homes or find stable housing for those who are currently homeless.”

West End Neighborhood House received two Home4Good grants this year. The first award for homelessness prevention totals $75,000 and will be used to support the organization’s Statewide Security Deposit Loan Program. The second award of $60,000 will be used beginning January 1, 2020 to provide support for ex-offenders returning to society who are facing difficulty finding safe, affordable housing.

“For over 100 years, West End has helped Delawareans meet their housing needs,” said Executive Director Paul F. Calistro, Jr. “With this funding, we are pleased to pilot a program that will assist individuals who are re-entering our community from the criminal justice system. Through the pilot program, we will help approximately 40 individuals secure short-term housing in an effort to reduce recidivism and increase their ability to gain and maintain employment as they become self-sufficient.”

Family Promise of Northern New Castle County will use a $100,000 Home4Good grant from this round of funding to assist in the organization’s rapid re-housing efforts, and a second award of $50,000 for its homelessness diversion work.

“Family Promise is so appreciative of the Home4Good funding assistance,” said Executive Director Cheryl Christiansen. “This funding is instrumental to providing financial assistance for families, allowing them to quickly get into stable housing and minimizing the trauma that goes along with the experience of homelessness.”

YWCA Delaware also received two Home4Good grants in this latest round of funding. The first award of $100,000 will be used for rapid re-housing efforts in New Castle County, and the second award of $50,000 will assist the nonprofit organization in its homelessness diversion efforts in New Castle County and Kent County.

“Home4Good funding gives us more tools to prevent homelessness and to re-house families who do not need the intensity of support services provided through the shelter system,” said Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Staats. “YWCA Delaware appreciates its partnership with Home4Good and the ability it gives us to address the individual needs of families to ensure they are housed safely, quickly and with dignity.”

Information about Home4Good is available at www.fhlb-pgh.com and at www.destatehousing.com. Organizations interested in future participation in the program can contact Kate Swanson at katherine.swanson@fhlb-pgh.com or Jessica Eisenbrey at jessica@destatehousing.com for details.

The Home4Good funding recipients are:

About FHLBank Pittsburgh
As an intermediary between global capital markets and local lenders, FHLBank Pittsburgh provides readily available liquidity, as well as affordable housing and community development opportunities, to member financial institutions of all sizes in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The Bank is part of the Federal Home Loan Bank System, which was established by Congress in 1932 and serves as a reliable source of funds for housing, jobs and growth in all economic cycles. To learn more, visit www.fhlb-pgh.com.

About the Delaware State Housing Authority
The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), formed in 1968, is dedicated to providing quality, affordable housing opportunities and appropriate supportive services to low- and moderate-income Delawareans. In addition to its role as the State’s Housing Finance Agency, DSHA is unique in that it also serves as a Public Housing Authority and acts as a Community Development and Planning Agency. As a Public Housing Authority, DSHA receives funding from HUD to build, own and operate public housing in Kent and Sussex counties, two of Delaware’s three counties. For more information about the Delaware State Housing Authority, please call (302) 739-4263 or visit DEStateHousing.com.

Media Contacts:
Jessica Eisenbrey, DSHA
302.739.0271
jessica@destatehousing.com

Rich Stimel, FHLBank Pittsburgh
412-288-7351
rich.stimel@fhlb-pgh.com