MEMPHIS — The City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development awarded nearly $6 million on June 23, 2025, through its fiscal year 2027 Strategic Community Investment Fund. The awards ceremony took place at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library. Ten local organizations received awards through federal agency programs, and 27 organizations received Neighborhood Partnership Grant awards.

The largest allocation of $4,094,863 went to Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS. Through this program, Hope House Day Care Center received $1,722,058, Friends For Life Corp. received nearly $1.9 million across three awards, and CMI Healthcare Services received $472,940. CMI Healthcare Services also received $375,000 through HOME-Funded Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, as did Cocaine & Alcohol Awareness Program Inc. Awards administered by the Emergency Solutions Grant totaled $490,810.55 and were allocated to Hope House Day Care Center, MIFA, Catholic Charities of West Tennessee, YWCA Greater Memphis, and Room In the Inn. The Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA) received a $191,000 Emergency Solutions Grant.

Mary Hamlett, vice president of housing stability programs at MIFA, said, "It means homelessness prevention." She added, "It means kids not sleeping on the street." MIFA anticipates its grant will help shelter about 60 families, assist five families through rapid rehousing, and help about 10 families with homelessness prevention. The organization estimated the funding could affect 250 to 300 children.

Neighborhood Partnership Grant awards totaled $405,000, with 27 recipient organizations each receiving $15,000. These recipients included YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South, RISE Memphis, Young Actors Guild, Heal Memphis DBA Heal 901, Klondike Smokey City Community Development Corporation, Junior League of Memphis, Peer Power, Community Legal Center, Binghampton Development Corporation, Service Over Self, Forward Memphis, Mustard Seed Inc., The Works Inc., World Relief Memphis, United Housing Inc., Victorian Village Inc., Alcy Ball Development Corporation, and Young, Gifted and Green.

The city awarded $220,000 in block grant funds for internships to four educational institutions: The University of Memphis received $100,000, while LeMoyne-Owen College, Christian Brothers University, and Rhodes College each received $40,000. Ashley Cash, director of the City of Memphis housing and community development department, said, "We know people's time is valuable." The department held a workshop for grant recipients following the awards ceremony.