EVERETT — Snohomish County has secured a $2.3 million federal grant to combat youth homelessness.
The funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development were awarded largely based on work the county has already done, according to Jeff McMorris, HUD’s northwest regional administrator.
He made the announcement Monday at Cocoon House, a nonprofit based in Everett.
“We are rewarding those programs that have proven successful in moving young people out of homelessness,” McMorris said.
The grant will allow the county to accelerate efforts that focus on homeless youth by several years, said Mary Jane Brell-Vujovic, the county’s human services director.
Snohomish County was one of 11 organizations nationally that received the funding this year. One other was also in Washington: The state Department of Commerce received $4.6 million. The agency works with smaller, mostly-rural counties to prevent and end homelessness.
In all, HUD awarded $43 million through its youth homelessness program.
In general, more than a third of the homeless population is younger than 24, McMorris said. In school districts across Snohomish County, at least 3,901 students are considered homeless, according to state data.
Lizz Giordano: 425-374-4165; egiordano@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @lizzgior.
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