HARRISBURG, Pa. — Bethlehem has secured $400,000 on behalf of 13 agencies in Northampton and Lehigh counties to address homelessness.
The city was among 14 municipal grantees statewide to get federal Emergency Solutions Grant funding, according to an awards list from the state Department of Community and Economic Development.
Emergency Solutions Grant awards totaling $5,330,914 will be “used by trusted community organizations to provide essential resources to help individuals and families across the Commonwealth find or maintain housing."Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger
The money is for emergency sheltering operations, rapid rehousing, street outreach and other related services.
Distributed in 50 counties, the total of $5,330,914 in ESG grant awards will be “used by trusted community organizations to provide essential resources to help individuals and families across the Commonwealth find or maintain housing,” DCED Secretary Rick Siger said in a release.
What to do next
The money comes following a partnership between Bethlehem and 13 member agencies of the Lehigh Valley Regional Homeless Advisory Board.
The city acts as a “pass-through” to streamline the process behind applying for and distributing the awards, officials have said.
One of Bethlehem's previous ESG application processes in 2024 came on behalf of 12 area organizations, including New Bethany, Third Street Alliance, VETBEDS and Valley Youth House.
A homeless encampment along the Lehigh River in Bethlehem recently was broken up — sending some individuals elsewhere, to local shelters or back home to live with family.
One mutual-aid volunteer described the scene on site the morning of the displacement as “supremely depressing.”
Another said Bethlehem could have done more to help those who were still figuring out what to do next.
City officials have said the Health Bureau and other departments will continue offering services and assistance to those in need.
Around the area, state
Surrounding counties also received ESG funding.
Bucks County will get $165,000 for its emergency homeless shelter, a domestic abuse treatment facility for women and assisting individuals in finding places to live.
Nine entities in Montgomery County will get $250,000 for street outreach, emergency sheltering support and rapid rehousing.
The annual Point-in-Time count totaled 524 people experiencing homelessness countywide.
Monroe and Pike counties have $232,500 across five recipients, proposing a regional project addressing homelessness and housing insecurity.
