Contact: Maureen P. Cean Phone: 315-782-1777 ext. 1020 Cell: 315-955-2156 Email: mcean@tlsnny.

com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HUD FUNDS FIRST HOMELESS HOUSING BEDS IN LEWIS COUNTY Transitional Living Services to Offer Housing for Families, Single Adults
More than $397,000 has been awarded to Transitional Living Services of Northern New York (TLS) to develop transitional housing for families and single adults in Lewis County. The number of families we see without any place to call home increases every year. We are grateful that TLS stepped forward to partner with DSS. This program will be life changing for some of our most overburdened families in Lewis County, says Stacy Alvord, Commissioner, Lewis County Department of Social Services. The funds were awarded through HUDs annual Continuum of Care (CoC) funding competition. The awards were announced in mid-2012 and the project, in development since that time, will kick-off shortly with outreach to area landlords and property managers. TLS will secure leases on the open market in and around Lowville using the HUD funds. At full capacity, the program will be able to serve seven families and eight single adults. TLS staff will work with the tenants to link them with needed services in the community and to acquire skills that will lead to a successful transition into permanent, affordable housing. The grant, renewable on an annual basis, will support the creation of three full time positions. "This CoC grant is a great opportunity for TLS to further support the housing needs of the homeless in Lewis County and build even stronger relationships with providers and landlords. The county administration has been very supportive of our efforts in this area and we look forward to continued collaboration to achieve the long term goal of safe, affordable housing for Lewis County residents," said TLS Executive Director Stevie Smith.

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Transitional Living Services of Northern New York is located at 482 Black River Parkway, Watertown, NY. A broad range of services is available to adults and children living in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties especially those who have been diagnosed with a mental illness, are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and veterans with housing issues. Find us online at www.tlsnny.com.