By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Northern Kentucky agencies that serve the homeless will receive nearly $2 million in federal funds, Kentucky U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning has announced.

Mr. Bunning, a Southgate Republican, said the money is part of $10.9 million coming to Kentucky from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of the federal government's Homeless Assistance Program.

"I am extremely pleased with this level of funding and the positive strides Kentucky will make towards eradicating homelessness across the Commonwealth," Mr. Bunning said in a statement.

The agencies receiving money are:

Transitions Inc. Bellevue will receive $1,210,312 for two programs: $500,000 for its Affordable Housing Project and $710,312 for the Homeless Services Project.

Transitions Director Mac McArthur said money for the Homeless Services Project will allow the agency to continue a 3-year-old program of renovating buildings and turning them into permanent housing. More than 200 people have moved into homes since the program's start but a need still exists.

"There is still a shortage of affordable housing for low-income people," Mr. McArthur said. "We're still well over 1,000 units short of the need, but grants like these certainly help."

Four other agencies are also involved: Welcome House, Catholic Social Services, NorthKey and the Mental Health Association of Northern Kentucky.

Transitions will use the $500,000 grant to renovate an apartment building in Covington and turn it into low-cost housing for people who were formerly homeless.

The Northern Kentucky Housing and Homeless Coalition will receive $140,537 to operate an eight-unit low-cost apartment building in Elsmere. The grant will cover three years of operating costs, which are supplemented by payments from residents, said Barry Grossheim, the agency's housing development director.

"Residents pay 30 percent of rent and utilities, but they can't afford the rest," Mr. Grossheim said. "So we use the grant for operating costs."

The Northern Kentucky Area Development District will receive $570,000 to help fund a program that uses computers and the Internet to bring homeless advocates and agencies together and allows them to share information and find assistance for the homeless.

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com