The Office of Supportive Housing in Philadelphia (OSH), which focuses on assisting individuals and families in moving towards independent living, has been awarded $8 million in a second installment of grants that was issued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The City will use the second award to fund 194 existing permanent and transitional housing units along with 115 new units of housing. The Tier 2 Continuum of Care grants are designed to build upon the funding HUD awarded through a first round of grants in March to support the Obama Administration's efforts to end homelessness.

“Our second award is a further testament to the excellent work our provider community does in partnership with the city,” OSH Director Liz Hersh said in a press release. “These new housing opportunities in particular will enable us to take another step forward in aggressively tackling youth, family and street homelessness.”

Occupancy for the new housing units will be dedicated to the households with children and permanent supportive housing for single men and women that are experiencing chronic homelessness. Existing units of housing that will also be funded to include occupancy for single adults without children, veterans and individuals with HIV/AIDS.

OSH was awarded $28 million in grants from HUD in March bringing Philadelphia’s total award to $36 million, the largest amount of funding the city has ever received to reduce homelessness.