Shelter Grants Increased

SALISBURY — Salisbury officials this week announced the city has accepted nearly $38,000 in grants from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development for the Emergency Solutions Grant Program.

Four organizations in Salisbury will be the beneficiaries of the grants totaling $37,875. Diakonia, Inc., Village of Hope and Samaritan Ministries, Inc. will each receive $10,250 each from the grant program. The funding will be utilized to assist with the operations costs for the four shelters.

“The City of Salisbury has been involved with passing through funds to emergency homeless shelters since 2006,” said Assistant City Administrator Lore Chambers. “The funds provide resources for operations, maintenance and administrative support. With the ending of the Homeless Prevention, Rapid Re-Housing stimulus fund program, these resources are needed more and more.”

Chambers said the funding level represents an increase of $7,726 over last year.

“The Department of Housing and Community Development increased awards to the city of Salisbury this funding round in recognition of the growing need due to the increase in homelessness in our community and on the Lower Eastern Shore,” she said. “With the lack of affordable housing, job losses and increased foreclosure rates, families are utilizing homeless shelters in greater numbers than in previous years.”

About The Author: Steven Green

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The writer has been with The Dispatch in various capacities since 1995, including serving as editor and publisher since 2004. His previous titles were managing editor, staff writer, sports editor, sales account manager and copy editor. Growing up in Salisbury before moving to Berlin, Green graduated from Worcester Preparatory School in 1993 and graduated from Loyola University Baltimore in 1997 with degrees in Communications (journalism concentration) and Political Science.