News of HUD Funding a Boon for St. Vincent’s
More Than $1 Billion in Grants Available Nationally

   SAN DIEGO — President Bush and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Director Mel Martinez announced today more than $1 billion in grants will be divided among organizations across America which provide programs and services for the homeless and needy. The Solutions Consortium, led by St. Vincent de Paul Village, received $2.67 million of the nearly $5.5 million available to agencies in the San Diego area.

   The announcement was welcome news to St. Vincent’s Grant Compliance Manager Anthony Griffin.

   "All of our programs that were up for renewal received full funding," he says. "Those monies are crucial to the survival of the many important services provided by St. Vincent’s and other members of the consortium."

   The $2.67 million will be divided among the network of local human services agencies which comprise the Solutions Consortium. A breakdown of the dispersal of the funding is attached to this release.

   Griffin was quick to point out the funding does not alleviate the need for donations to St. Vincent’s.

   "Our lifeblood is the generosity of the people of San Diego," he says. "The HUD funding is great news, but from a fund-raising standpoint, it doesn’t mean we can rest on our laurels."

   It takes more than $45,000 a day to fund the comprehensive group of programs and services offered at St. Vincent’s, says Griffin.

   For more information on today’s HUD announcement, call (619) 525-1608.

The following is a breakdown of the amounts each Solutions Consortium member agency will receive from the $2.67 million:

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