Nine grants totaling about $17.5 million have been awarded to programs battling homelessness by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The grants, to be awarded over a five-year period, will target chronically homeless individuals with co-occurring addiction and mental-health problems as well as those with serious psychiatric disorders. The money will be used to provide intensive individualized services in supportive-housing environments.

 "This initiative will provide chronically homeless individuals and families additional services and treatment needed to remain housed in a permanent setting," said Terry Cline, Ph.D., SAMHSA administrator.

Each grantee will receive up to $450,000 annually; a total of $3 million is being awarded this year.

Grantees included the Cook Inlet Housing Authority in Anchorage, Alaska; Contra Costa County Health Services Department in Martinez, Calif.; St. Vincent de Paul Village, Inc., in San Diego, Calif., Community Connections, Inc., of Washington, D.C.; Pine Street Inn, Inc., of Boston; Phoenix Programs, Inc., of Columbia, Mo.; Vocational Instruction Project County Services of New York City; Project Renewal, Inc., of New York City; and Central City Concern of Portland, Ore.