ECHO receives $1.1 million for housing

The Ending Community Homelessness Coalition, known as ECHO, has received two grants for a total of $1.1 million to help fund permanent supportive housing for 250 homeless men and women in Austin. The organization announced Tuesday that it had received $250,000 from the Nonprofit Finance Fund and $881,376 from a partnership between the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Justice. The grant from the Nonprofit Finance Fund requires a match, so ECHO will be raising an additional $250,000. The group plans to develop what is called a Pay for Success initiative, to bring together investors, philanthropists, property owners and social service providers with government partners to increase the amount of permanent supportive housing in the community. According to a statement from Ann Howard, executive director of ECHO, “Austin has some (permanent supportive housing) sprinkled across the city and it’s very effective, but we need more.” She said the group has data showing that Austin needs close to 1,000 units. The grant will help provide a substantial portion of what Austin needs, she said.