BANGOR – Under the largest-ever federal aid package for the homeless, the city will receive new money to help young people with disabilities who are aging out of the foster care system.

Announced on Saturday, the $1 billion in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grants means that Bangor has $259,200 for 10 new Shelter Plus Care rental subsidies for teen-agers with substance abuse or mental health issues, according to Mary Anne Chalila, director of the city’s Health and Welfare Department.

Shelter Plus Care is part of the Continuum of Care program which provides transitional and permanent housing and support services, such as job training, health care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, child care and living skills training.

Maine has three recipient sites – Portland, Bangor and the Maine State Housing Authority, which manages the Continuum of Care everywhere else in the state.

Under the new federal plan, the state was awarded $5,496,177 in Continuum of Care grants, with Portland receiving $1,880,226 and the MSHA, $3,137,752.

Bangor will receive a total of $478,199 which will pay for the renewal of several programs, including a three-year position for the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter transitional housing coordinator at $55,799.

Also, Acadia Recovery Community will receive $53,400 for its transitional housing project aimed at people with alcohol abuse problems.

Allocated for Shelter Plus Care rental subsidies are: $73,800 for 13 one-bedroom units and one two-bedroom unit; and $36,000 for two efficiency and four one-bedroom units and one two-bedroom unit.

Meanwhile, the city of Portland received $783,000 in emergency shelter grant allocations, while Bangor will receive a portion of the $695,000 that the MSHA was allotted.

The city’s funding level this year is par for the course, according to Chalila. The Bangor Alliance for Healthy Housing Options, the local group that applies annually for the federal grants, this year applied for a little over a million dollars, she said.

“We never seem to get all of what we need because we’re competing against [cities like] New York, Boston and Chicago,” Chalila said.

During a Saturday conference call with reporters from a number of other newspapers, HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo emphasized that the new higher funding package reflects Congress’ confidence in the Continuum of Care program which was created about six years ago.

With its emphasis on having case managers guide people through the system and intervene for them when necessary, Shelter Plus Care is working well locally, according to Chalila.

“There were people on the streets who were going without services, but now with case managers to help coordinate the services they need, they function better, stay in apartments much longer, and work as productive members of society,” she said.