The federal government has awarded Honolulu more than $22.3 million to address the housing needs of low-income and homeless individuals, Rep. Ed Case announced on Tuesday.

It’s part of an over $31 million Emergency Solution Grant to the state aimed at helping people “regain stability in permanent housing,” according to a news release.

Case said the funding allocated today can be used to:

• Make more emergency shelters available for homeless individuals and families
• Operate emergency shelters by providing food, rent, security, maintenance, repair, fuel, equipment, insurance, utilities, furnishings, and supplies necessary for their operation
• Provide hotel/motel vouchers for homeless families and individuals
• Provide essential services to people experiencing homelessness including child care, education services, employment assistance, outpatient health services, legal services, mental health services, substance abuse treatment services, and transportation
• Prevent individuals from becoming homeless and rapidly rehouse homeless individuals

According to Case, Congress has provided $4 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s ESG program for local governments to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus among individuals and families who are homeless, receiving homeless assistance, or are at risk of becoming homeless.