AUGUSTA – The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded Maine more than $9.3 million in new funds to provide housing opportunities for people who are homeless, Gov. John Baldacci announced Thursday.

It is the largest HUD Continuum of Care grant Maine has received and is more than $400,000 larger than last year’s grant, the governor’s office said.

“This grant makes a real difference in our communities in the shelter, housing and supportive services that we can provide people who are homeless,” Baldacci said in a prepared statement. “The funding will enable us to move forward in our goal to end homelessness in the state and help us address some of the critical housing issues that people who are homeless face.”

The HUD grant of $9,345,275 combines funding for three different Continuum of Care regions in Maine – Portland, the Greater Bangor region, and the rest of the state, represented by MaineHousing.

The grant money helps fund emergency shelters, provides rental assistance (including in some cases support services for people with mental health illness), and funding for the computer information system that the three regions share.

“Most of the grant finances long-term housing opportunities for people and families who are homeless,” said MaineHousing Director Dale McCormick. “Long-term housing, which includes needed support services in some instances, is critically important to establish people who are homeless in stable housing and further our long-term goal of eliminating homelessness.”

MaineHousing’s share of the grant amounts to about $5.4 million, including $770,000 in funds for Maine’s network of emergency shelters. Portland will receive $2.6 million, plus $95,000 for emergency shelters. The Bangor region Continuum of Care will receive about $1.2 million.