Porter County Awarded $16,834 to Expand Emergency Food and Shelter Programs

unitedway_portercountyPorter County has been awarded federal funds under the emergency food and shelter national board program. Porter County has been chosen to receive $16,834 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.

The selection was made by a National Board that is chaired 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 Porter County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the area. 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 nondiscrimination,
  5. have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and
  6. if they are a private voluntary organization, have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply.

Porter County has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter funds previously with non profits providing food, shelter, and utility assistance.

Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must contact Deb Townsend, United Way of Porter County, P.O. Box 2028, Valparaiso, IN 46384, Phone 219-464-3583 or deb@unitedwaypc.org for an application. The deadline for applications to be received is 4:30 pm on Friday, Sept. 9, 2011.