Gordon receives federal funds to supplement emergency food and shelter programs
Gordon County has been awarded federal funds made available through the Department of Homeland Security ( DHS) / Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA) under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program.
Gordon County received $ 27,377 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county during the Phase 33 funding period.
The selection is made by a national board that is charged by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, The Jewish Federations of North America, the Salvation Army and United Way Worldwide.
The local board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high need areas around the country.
A local board will determine how the funds awarded to Gordon County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in Gordon County. The local board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds made available under this phase of the program.
Under the terms of the grant from the national board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, 2) be eligible to receive federal funds, 3) have an accounting system, 4) practice non- discrimination, 5) have demonstrated the capacity to deliver emergency food and or shelter programs and 6) if they are a private voluntary organization, have a voluntary board.
The local board also requires that local agencies receiving funds must: 1) be in good standing with the national and local boards regarding documentation requirements if funds were received in prior phases, 2) utilize the local emergency assistance database as approved by the local board, 3) serve residents of Gordon County with funds awarded, 4) be currently operating programs which provide food, shelter or emergency programs providing rent/ mortgage or utility assistance ( no new start- ups will be funded).
Gordon County distributed $ 28,925 in Phase 32 funding to Hand- Up Inc. and Northwest Georgia Family Crisis Center, Inc. These agencies provided services to 553 individuals through shelter, rent and utility services.
Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must apply in writing to the local board chair. Written requests must include: 1) a brief history of the voluntary agency seeking funding, 2) information regarding the requesting agency’s non- profit or government status and names of the agency’s voluntary board members (if applicable), 3) provide validation of eligibility to receive Federal funds, 4) provide validation of the agency’s accounting system, 5) provide a statement regarding the requesting agency’s non- discrimination practices, 6) provide statistics regarding emergency services provided during the last fiscal year of the agency’s operations, 7) include the amount requested from the Local Board, and 8) certify the agency’s willingness to adhere to all Phase 33 funding requirements as issued by the National Board under the Emergency Food and Shelter Programs’ Phase 33 requirements.
Requests for funding should be mailed to Richard Cooper, local board chair, 400 Belwood Road, Calhoun, GA 30701. Written requests can also be submitted via fax to 706-629-1023. The contact phone for the local board chair is 706-629-8851. Written requests for funding must be received by the local board chair by no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016.