The Bremerton Housing Authority (BHA) recently announced it received $136,450 to continue its Supportive Housing Program in partnership with Kitsap Community Resources, according to a BHA news release.

The money awarded through Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance funds.

The Supportive Housing Program is designed to “bring stability to families by ensuring they have safe and affordable housing,” according to BHA.

Many resources are utilized to provide ongoing support services to residents of the Supportive Housing Rental Assistance Program through case management. Local and state programs are utilized through referral and advocacy to access chemical dependency treatment, food, household goods and clothing, legal services, health and dental care, job training and counseling, mental health services and access to TANF and medical assistance. BHA has established a preference on its waiting list to issue Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers to Supportive Housing Program participants who successfully complete the program and move from transitional to affordable permanent housing.

During the last fiscal year, BHA provided supportive services to 22 households, including 25 adults and 52 children. Seventy-four percent of participants who left transitional housing moved to permanent, stable housing with rental assistance through the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program.

BHA plans to help at least 19 homeless Kitsap families transition from homelessness to permanent housing during the next year through the Supportive Housing Program.