Santa Rosa County has been chosen to receive $19,022 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the area. The selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from The Salvation Army; American Red Cross; Council of Jewish Federations; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA; and The United Way of America, which will provide the administrative staff and functions as fiscal agent. The 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 made up of The United Way of Santa Rosa County; Santa Rosa County; The City of Milton; The American Red Cross; The Salvation Army; Local Ministerial Association; Catholic Charities of NW Florida; The NW Florida Area Agency on Aging Inc.; Santa Rosa County Emergency Management; and a homeless/formerly homeless or past recipient of services will determine how the funds awarded to Santa Rosa County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service organizations in the area. The local board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds available under this phase of the program. Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must be private voluntary non-profit or units of government, have an accounting system, practice nondiscrimination, have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs and if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board. Qualifying organizations are urged to apply. Deadline to apply is 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 25. Any application postmarked by this date will be considered. Santa Rosa County has distributed emergency food and shelter funds previously to South Santa Rosa Interfaith Ministries Inc. This agency was responsible for providing emergency shelter assistance to 84 people and utility assistance to 158 people who had no other resources with which to meet their own needs. Public or private voluntary organizations interested in submitting an application for Food and Shelter Program funds must contact Guy Thompson, Chairman, United Way of Santa Rosa County, Post Office Box 284, Milton, FL 32572, 850-623-4507, or call Brian Watkins, City Manager, City of Milton, at 850-983-5411. Any organization submitting an application will be informed of the date that the Local Board will meet.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Santa Rosa County awarded FEMA funds