FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                   

Contact:   Richard Faris, Lee County Human Services
                (941) 652-7930 

LEE COUNTY RECEIVES STATE GRANTS FOR HOMELESSNESS

FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 5, 2002) – Lee County’s Department of Human Services and two other local agencies have received $227,098 in grants from the Florida Department of Children and Families to deal with local homelessness issues. 

The money is part of $3.8 million DCF awarded this week to serve a total of 10,727 homeless clients statewide with a wide range of programs and services. 

Lee County Human Services will receive $49,760 for its LIFT Supportive Housing Program, which provides assistance with rent, deposits, household items and case management for qualified homeless families.  The department also received $17,245 for a Homeless Management Information System. 

The Salvation Army received $114,660 for a variety of programs, including medical outreach and transitional housing.  And Lutheran Services received $45,433 for two outreach vans for at risk, runaway and homeless youths. 

The total homeless population in Lee County is estimated at up to 2,000 on any given night. 

Lee County Human Services provides a complement of integrated services to low-income families and disadvantaged neighborhoods, including emergency financial assistance, housing assistance, counseling services, housing rehabilitation, neighborhood infrastructure improvements and neighborhood building, and services for the homeless.  The department employs 42 people and has a Fiscal Year 2002 budget of $16.9 million.