Parish seeks local agencies to receive emergency funds

St. Charles Parish has been chosen to receive $11,591.00 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the parish.

These funds have been made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

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 Salvation Army, United Jewish Communities and United Way of America. 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 made up of local service agencies will determine how the funds awarded to St. Charles Parish 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 made available through the ARRA.

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, they must have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply.

St Charles Parish has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter funds previously through the Department of Community Services and the St. Charles Social Concerns Committee. These agencies were responsible for providing rent, utility and mortgage assistance.

Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for ARRA Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must contact Timothy J. Vial, Board Chair, at 985-783-5000 or email him at tvial@stcharlesgov.net for an application. The deadline for applications to be received is June 5, 2009.