MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development is awarding nearly $6.5 million in grant funding to over 30 local nonprofit agencies on Wednesday.

The grants, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the City of Memphis, support community-led solutions in housing, homelessness prevention, and neighborhood revitalization, the city said.

“Thank you for showing up for our city. There are so many residents in our city that may not know any of our names but this work that we’re putting in is for them,” said Memphis Mayor Paul Young.

The various agencies awarded different grants, and the first agency is called Friends For Life.

“This is huge for us,” said Lenox Warren, Chief Executive Officer for Hope House.

Like Hope House, around for nearly 30 years the nonprofit helps families and children affected by HIV and poverty. 

“We have everything from early childhood education to social services including housing support, we also provide mental health services, emergency housing support and a food pantry,” said Warren.

They received three different grants totaling more than $1.5 million.

“That is rent assistance for 68 families, that is daycare for 40 families, that is outreach services for hundreds and hundreds of people,” said Warren.

“Not only does this money help us keep our programs going for our children and families but it also reminds people that there are people out there that are supporting them and love them,” said Warren.

With outreach, the nonprofit serves about 3,000 people annually.

“You don’t have your basic needs met it’s really hard to think about how to take care of your health, if you’re living with HIV and you’re in survival mode it is very hard if you don’t have housing, you don’t have childcare, you don’t have transportation,” said Warren.

The grant money was from the Strategic Community Investment Fund, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the City of Memphis,” said Warren.