CARES Act Funds for Local Communities: Expanding Hospitals, Stabilizing Land Values and Wages, Reducing Homelessness

Description

One of the aims of the CARES Act is to address the short supply of facilities to deal with the present and future pandemics, while other facilities are underused. For example, there are shortages of healthcare and hospital space, while there are opportunities to take advantage of lodging and hospitality space potentially available due to the economic impact of COVID-19 and shelter-in-place policies.

The CARES Act makes about $2 billion available to cities, states, and nonprofits through HUD's Community Development Block Grant, Emergency Solutions Grant, and Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS programs, for immediate construction of medical facilities, converting hotels and motels to expand hospital capacity, and converting commercial properties to temporary treatment facilities.

Other funds are available to address homelessness, whether already existing or due to COVID-19, for emergency shelters, hotel/motel vouchers, education services, and employment assistance.

Listen as this seasoned panel discusses how cities, states, communities, and nonprofits can access these funds for revitalizing and supporting businesses that are on the front lines of the COVID-19 fight and, at the same time, address persistent housing problems at the local level.