Two recent grants will help Butler County residents at risk of losing their homes or seeking shelter.

Last week, the county received a $1.5 million grant through the state. The money comes from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

The funds are to be used for homeless prevention, rapid rehousing or emergency shelter for those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless because of the pandemic.

Recipients must be tenants or former tenants who earn a maximum of 50 percent of the median area income. Butler County’s median area income is $68,472 annually.

Seventeen out of every 10,000 people in the United States are experiencing homelessness on any given night, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

That’s more than half a million people, and 13,199 of them are in Pennsylvania.

In June, county commissioners asked for, and are expected to receive, about $2 million in state Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) funding.

Those funds are available to renters, homeowners and landlords.

Lack of housing contributes to poor physical and mental health, and those experiencing unsheltered homelessness may be at risk of being infected by the coronavirus.

Any organization that identifies homeless people can refer them to the county for assistance, which can include medical care, mental health care, employment training, education and rental assistance.

Catholic Charities serves as the central intake-coordinated entry for those struggling with housing crises or homelessness in Butler County.

It oversees the county’s waiting list for all housing programs.

The pandemic has adversely affected housing opportunities and housing reliability for thousands of Pennsylvanians.

As we begin to recover our economy, we must also ensure that those at greatest risk of losing their homes and housing stability are able to recover as well.