U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development Story Archives

Federal Report Outlines State Of Homelessness Across Country

West Virginia had seen a steady decrease in homelessness since a high of more than 2,400 people experiencing homelessness at a point in time in 2007.

Close to 1,800 people (1,779) experienced homelessness in West Virginia on a single night in 2024.

That’s according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s “2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) To Congress” released last week.

It’s the highest number of unhoused people in the state in almost a decade, and a 25 percent increase from 2023. West Virginia had seen a steady decrease in homelessness since a high of more than 2,400 people experiencing homelessness at a point in time in 2007.

The data is collected during point-in-time (PIT) counts, unduplicated one-night estimates of both sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness. The counts are conducted nationwide and occur during the last week in January of each year.

The study distinguishes between unsheltered homelessness – sheltering in places not meant for human habitation – and sheltered homelessness, which refers to people who are staying in emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, or safe havens. In West Virginia, 788 people (44.3%) experienced unsheltered homelessness while 991 people (55.7%) experienced sheltered homelessness.

Eighty-nine percent of all people experiencing homelessness in West Virginia at a point-in-time were individuals – the highest rate in the country..

West Virginia was singled out in the report for a decline in unaccompanied youth homelessness, defined as those under the age of 24 that are not part of a family with children or accompanied by their parent or guardian during their experience of homelessness.

West Virginia had 108 unaccompanied youths experiencing homelessness in 2024, a 29% decrease (43 fewer youth) since 2023. This shift was attributed to several new Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) grantees in the state. YHDP grants provide communities resources to develop a coordinated approach to ending youth homelessness, including connection to and provision of permanent housing.

Nationally, the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night in 2024 was the highest ever recorded.

Federal Agency Awards $9.3 Million To 19 W.Va. Organizations

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded $9.3 million for 19 organizations in West Virginia that address homelessness and domestic violence.

U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia announced the funds. The programs also support people experiencing dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.

The individual awards range from $73,000 to $1.8 million and go to Huntington West Virginia Housing Authority, WV Coalition to End Homelessness, Cabell-Huntington Coalition for the Homeless, Raleigh County Community Action Association, Telamon Corp., Clarksburg Housing Authority, Greater Wheeling Coalition for the Homeless, Covenant House, Bartlett House, YWCA Charleston, Branches Domestic Violence Shelter, Kanawha Valley Collective, Roark-Sullivan Lifeway Center, Task Force on Domestic Violence HOPE, Charleston-Kanawha Housing Authority, Prestera Center for Mental Health Services, Shenandoah Women’s Center, North Central WV Community Action and Southwestern Community Action Council.

West Virginia to See More than $100 Million in Disaster Relief

A disaster relief package that would send more than $100 million to West Virginia is on its way to the president’s desk.

This funding is part of a larger disaster relief package of more than $19 billion that will be split throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. $106 million will be given to West Virginia for mitigation and resilience activities related to past flooding.

The bill passed the U.S. Senate nearly two weeks ago and passed the U.S. House of Representatives this week.

The funds will come from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery program, according to Sen. Joe Manchin’s office.

Manchin said in a statement the funds were promised to West Virginia more than a year ago in the aftermath of major flooding in the state.

“I am so glad that finally the disaster relief package has passed so we can get these much needed resources to the people of West Virginia and other areas of the country that have been hit by horrible natural disasters. In my state, we have been waiting more than a year to receive this funding to help rebuild in the aftermath of terrible flooding. I have been working hard with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this passed and I applaud my colleagues on the Senate Appropriations Committee and President Trump for finally reaching a deal and bringing it to the Senate floor,” Sen. Joe Manchin said in a press release on May 23, 2019.

According to Manchin’s office, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has 90 days after President Donald Trump signs the bill to release the $106 million in disaster aid to West Virginia.

The bill also includes:

$3.25 Billion for the Army Corps of Engineers to repair damaged infrastructure and reduce the risk of future floods and hurricanes.
$3.17 Billion to rebuild U.S. military bases and coast guard facilities.
$3.005 Billion to support U.S. farmers as they recover from crop and livestock losses.
$2.431 Billion for Community Development Block Grants to help communities rebuild and mitigate future disaster.
$1.65 Billion to rebuild disaster damaged highways.
$720 Million for the U.S. Forest Service for wildland fire activities.
$600 Million in Economic Development Assistance Programs to help communities rebuild and revamp their economy.
$349.4 Million for State Revolving Funds to help rebuild damaged water systems; and
$128 Million for the National Park Service to repair damaged public lands.
$605 Million for the Nutrition Assistance Program for Puerto Rico.
$304 Million from Community Development Block Grants to help it meet FEMA match requirements for Puerto Rico.

A provision also ensures more damaged facilities in Puerto Rico will be repaired or replaced, and built with better standards.

Federal Prosecutors Probing Use of Flood Relief Money in West Virginia

Federal prosecutors are investigating the use of federal disaster relief funds given to West Virginia after a deadly flood in 2016.

U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart announced the investigation in a news release Wednesday, saying “diversion, fraud, corruption or delay cannot and will not be tolerated.”

“Desperate communities and West Virginians need certainty that in a future disaster intended assistance will be delivered timely and spent properly,” he said.

Stuart’s announcement did not specify who the investigation is targeting.

The federal probe follows a state audit into the misuse of federal flood money in the city of Richwood that resulted in criminal charges against its mayor, former mayor, police chief and former clerk.

State Auditor John B. McCuskey found that the city didn’t keep track of the federal money, diverted funds away from their intended use and shelled out almost a quarter of a million dollars for consultants to help the city with the grant. He said that only about $400,000 of the more than $3 million the city received went toward flood recovery, with the rest unaccounted for.

“What we know is where they didn’t go,” he told a crowd of angry residents when he released his report in late March. “And anybody can walk down main street in Richwood and see where they didn’t go.”

Republican Gov. Jim Justice has faced criticism over his administration’s slow spending of a flood recovery program that has received $150 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. His spokesman did not respond to a voicemail seeking comment.

“The poor folks who were hurt the most with the flood are still hurting and they haven’t been able to get any relief,” said state Del. Isaac Sponaugle, a Democrat, who added that he welcomes the investigation.

In June 2016, thunderstorms drenched the region with as much as 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain, leading to overflown rivers and catastrophic flooding. Twenty-three people died, scores of homes were damaged or destroyed and infrastructure was wrecked.

West Virginia Contractors Chosen for Post-Flood Construction

The West Virginia Development Office says four contractors have been chosen for housing-related construction under the RISE WV Housing Program designed to help residents affected by the June 2016 floods.

The state is providing two housing programs for eligible applicants funded by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The contractors Appalachia Service Project in Brenton, River Valley Remodeling LLC in Charleston, Thompson Construction in Lavalette and Dan Hill Construction Co. in Gauley Bridge.

In June, the state requested proposals for structural renovations, turnkey residential property reconstruction and manufactured housing unit replacement.

State Getting $28 Million for Housing Programs

West Virginia’s U.S. senators say the state’s housing programs will get more than $28 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito say the money will enable communities to improve public housing and help some of the state’s most vulnerable people get access to safe and stable living conditions.

Community Development Block Grant funds include nearly $1.6 million for Huntington, $1.4 million for Charleston and $1.1 for Wheeling.

Other cities getting smaller block grants are Beckley City, Martinsburg, Parkersburg, Vienna City and Weirton.

HUD funding also supports rental assistance, emergency shelters and new affordable housing.