ADECA grants support goals of 2nd Chance, Right Place

Oct. 31—Two nonprofits in Calhoun County were awarded nearly a half-million dollars combined last week to help people who are homeless or are close to becoming homeless.

2nd Chance Inc. and The Right Place for Housing and Support — two nonprofits based in Anniston — received the grants.

The local sum is part of a $2.5 million grant distributed among other nonprofits and municipalities to assist vulnerable Alabamians. The funds from the Emergency Solutions Grant program will assist local governments and nonprofit agencies to provide housing and other related services to homeless people or people facing homelessness according to a news release from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA).

ADECA is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, victim programs, economic development, water resource management, energy conservation and recreation.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said the grants will help the homelessness situation in the state.

"Emergency Solutions Grants are a measure to help people who are for a number of reasons find themselves in need of a safe shelter," Ivey said, "I commend these governments and organizations for assisting these individuals and families by ensuring they have secure housing during a time of great need."

The Right Place

The Right Place received $250,000.

Lori Floyd, Right Place executive director, said the grant is a renewal of a grant the nonprofit has previously received.

Floyd said the grant will help with the nonprofit's efforts to provide its clients with rapid rehousing, homeless prevention, and a street outreach for homeless individuals to try to get them housed again.

"It's very exciting that we were able to receive the funding and to continue this program, with assistance like this particular program the Right Place has actually been able to get over 67 people off the street or protect them from being evicted over the last year," Floyd said.

Floyd said the grant has a huge effect when there is not enough affordable housing in the area.

"It gives people an opportunity to get that assistance to get into a home and stabilize them enough that they can move forward on their own," she said.

Floyd said people have to qualify for the program but it's reaching those extremely low income individuals who are experiencing homelessness currently.

The Right Place offers a "drop-in" day center for homeless adults and families that is not funded through the ADECA grant, but it does give the staff an opportunity to learn whether clients qualify for the grant and other programs, she said.

Floyd said the Right Place's main focus is housing but offers other services to help the homeless population along with offering mental health and first aid certifications to organizations and community groups free of charge.

Beginning on Wednesday the Right Place will offer a navigator to help people enroll in the health care marketplace.

2nd Chance, Inc.

2nd Chance Inc. received $240,000 to help in its efforts to provide safe shelter and supportive services to victims/surviors of domestice and sexual violence in Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah, Randolph and Talladega counties.

Krychelle Smith, executive director, said the grant will cover emergency shelter operations, everything from food, utilities and maintenance.

"It also covers rapid rehousing for domestic violence victims that are fleeing abusive situations, it covers rental deposits, rent and utility deposits, it also covers two case managers to assist our clients in those rapid rehousing and emergency shelter situations," Smith said.

Smith said the grant is a recurring grant that the nonprofit has used previously.

Smith, who took the helm of the nonprofit at the end of September, wanted to remind the public what the nonprofit is all about.

"We're just here to serve our community and any victims of domestic violence and those can be men, women, it could be elderly. It's very widespread," Smith said, "We're here to raise awareness on dating, safe dating and what those practices look like, what the warning signs are prior to even entering into those relationships."

"We are in our 35th year and hope to continue for another 35 more," she said.

Staff writer Bill Wilson: 256-235-3562. On Twitter @bwilson_star.