The Center for Community Action has received a little more than $2 million in federal funding through the state to bolster programs that help alleviate or prevent homelessness.

The HOME American Rescue Plan money will approximately double the funding currently available for three homelessness-intervention programs that the Everett-based CCA operates in six counties, including Blair, according to Executive Director Wendy Melius.

One of those programs is the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care for the “truly homeless,” Melius said.

Another is the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability Fund (PHARE), which uses transfer tax revenue from Marcellus shale operations to provide rental assistance.

The third is the Emergency Solutions Grant program for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless through eviction, using money to help with back rent or unpaid utilities bills, so that eviction doesn’t occur, she said.

Of the counties involved, Blair has the largest number of individuals and households that would be eligible for the help, according to Melius.

The plight of clients must be documented through agency “by name” listings and the provision of help prioritized based on severity of problems, according to Melius.

Homelessness has been increasing, largely due to a shortage of affordable housing, Melius said.

Her agency is hoping to increase the stock of affordable housing by working with landlords to expand their holdings, encouraging people to become landlords, so that the number of units in play will swell; working with developers to create more housing; and encouraging economic development agencies to partner with developers in that effort, Melius said.

The agency is also working with HUD on its rural initiatives, which include the purchase of homes for renovation for the benefit of homeless people who have mental health or substance abuse problems, according to Melius.

“We’re very thankful for the support,” Melius said of the new funding.

The money the CCA is getting is among $27 million of HOME-ARP funding that the Department of Community and Economic Development has allocated.

Of that, $12.3 million is for supportive services — the CCA funding is in this category — while $14.6 million is for development of non-congregate shelter, according to a news release from the DCED.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.