WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today announced that the Michigan State Housing Development Authority is releasing more than $400,000 in federal grant funds to Housing Resources Inc. (HRI) in Kalamazoo. The announcement comes after Upton last week called on MSHDA to expedite the release of Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) relief funds to help folks in southwest Michigan facing homelessness.

“This welcome news will provide immediate help to the most vulnerable in our community,” Upton said. “When we heard there was a hold up with this federal funding, we went to work trying to expediate the process and get the funding into the hands of those who need it most, like HRI, which is working so hard to address the unique challenge of homelessness in our community during the COVID-19 crisis.”

“HRI is delighted that the much-needed funds are on the way to Kalamazoo to help us fight homelessness during this Pandemic,” said Michelle Davis, Executive Director of Housing Resources, Inc.  “We appreciate the efforts of our state MSHDA partners and the advocacy from our federal partners and elected officials.”   

HRI raised the issue with Upton and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson when Carson visited Kalamazoo last month that they had yet to receive ESG funding from MSHDA. In March, Upton voted for and Congress passed the CARES Act, which included $4 billion for the ESG program. The state of Michigan has received in total more than $35 million, which was directed to MSHDA to help allocate to housing organizations. 

Upton last week sent a letter to MSHDA requesting the funding be distributed immediately. That letter can be seen here.