‘Much-needed’: INLIVIAN awarded $2M in emergency housing voucher funds

CHARLOTTE — INLIVIAN, Charlotte’s housing authority, announced Wednesday that it has been awarded more than $2 million in Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) funding for 178 vouchers from the federal government.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provided the funding as part of the American Rescue Plan.

The money will be used to house residents who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or human trafficking.

“This award comes at a critical time when the need for affordable housing could not be greater,” said A. Fulton Meachem Jr., INLIVIAN’s CEO. “Charlotte was facing an affordable housing crisis before the pandemic and COVID-19 has only made matters worse.”

President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill, to help the United States’ recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the plan, HUD allocated nearly $5 billion in funding for EHVs to public housing agencies nationwide.

[LINK: Charlotte’s Affordable Housing Crisis]

INLIVIAN was established in 1939 to improve housing conditions and provide decent housing for low-income families. Today, the agency provides housing and support to more than 10,000 households in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

“The pandemic impacted families in ways no one could have expected or planned for, these vouchers will help provide some much-needed stability and opportunity,” Meachem said. “We look forward to working with the county’s Continuum of Care and other local partners to establish the process for ensuring that families are connected with this housing resource.

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