Local non-profit organizations have a 4 p.m. deadline April 17 to apply to the United Way of Santa Rosa County (UWSRC) for consideration for a $17,005 grant from the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program (EFSNBP). According to United Way, the chosen agency must meet five criteria: be a private voluntary nonprofit or a unit 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.
Kyle Holley, Director of Development for the UWSRC, said the EFSNBP is a giant federal program and each county everywhere receives an allocation. The money initially comes to the states, he said, who divide up the funds based on income and census data. “Some counties don’t have as much vulnerability as others do,” he said.
A local board made up of UWSRC, Santa Rosa County, City of Milton, American Red Cross, 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 where the funds go. This board tends to choose a single agency to steward the money, Holley said, since it can go so fast. “It all comes down to who can administer the money for the cheapest amount. It speaks to fairness. It’s the taxpayers’ money,” he said.
Last year, the funds went to South Santa Rosa Interfaith Ministries, Inc. This agency was responsible for providing emergency shelter assistance to 32 people and utility assistance to 126 people who had no other resources with which to meet their own needs. Holley said this is what the money is for, those in crisis situations.
The UW encourages all agencies who qualify to apply. Organizations interested in submitting an application for Food and Shelter Program funds must contact Guy Thompson, executive director, United Way of Santa Rosa County, P.O. Box 284, Milton, FL 32572, 623-4507.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Helping Hand to get $17k