A grant that is part of the CARES Act will assist the county in aiding individuals and families who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless.

Hidalgo County was awarded a Homeless Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG-CV) in the amount of $4,242,374 that will be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic among the county’s homeless population, the county announced in a Thursday news release.

The funds will support additional homeless assistance and homelessness prevention activities to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19.

“This is particularly timely coming at a point when we are preparing to launch our Mortgage and Rental Relief Program, ”Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez said in a statement.

The allocation comes from $2.96 billion in Federal Funds targeted towards the homeless – both sheltered and unsheltered – and those at the most risk for homelessness.

The grant was made possible through Senator Ted Cruz, Senator John Cornyn, Congressman Filemon Vela Jr., Congressman Vicente Gonzalez, and Congressman Henry Cuellar who all helped in securing this grant money for Hidalgo County, Cortez added.