American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Jefferson County has been chosen to receive $14,557.00 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.

The purpose of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is to supplement and expand efforts to provide food, emergency shelter and housing/utility assistance.

A Local Board made up of the United Way, the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities and various churches will determine how the funds awarded to Jefferson County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelters programs run by local service agencies in the area. The Local Board is responsible for recommending to national board agencies that will receive these funds made available through the ARRA.

“The local board feels very strongly that with recent layoffs and the struggling economy that assistance with rent/mortgage and utilities will be where the greatest need is so agencies that can service families in our communities with those needs may apply for funding.” states, Rhonda McCowen, Local Board Chairman. “We think that our local food pantries do a wonderful job of keeping in touch with the community need here but that we just do not have enough organizations serving the needs of utility bills and rent and mortgage assistance so we have decided to direct these new funds towards agencies that work with people with those needs.”

“The other difference in these funds is that agencies that receive the funding will be required to seek out recent or new need in the community, such as employees that have incurred recent layoffs. These funds are meant to meet new community need that came about because of the recent economic crisis. With some of the recent downturn in local employment we want people to know that there is somewhere they can turn. These funds will be used to give people just a little extra time to get back on their feet. It’s not a tremendous amount but we hope it can help families a little.”

Under terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must:

Be private voluntary non-profits or units of government
Be eligible to receive federal funds
Have an accounting system and checking account with the ability to accept electronic funds transfers
Have a Federal ID number
Be providing services and using other agency resources in the area in which you are seeking funding
Practice nondiscrimination. Agencies with religious afiliation wishing to participate in the program must not refuse services to an applicant based upon religion or require attendance at religious services as a condition of assistance, nor will such groups engage in any religious proselytizing in any program receiving EFSP funds.
Have demonstrated the prior capability to deliver emergency shelter programs,
If you are a private not for profit organization, must have a voluntary board
To the extent possible involve homeless individuals and families, through employment, volunteer programs, etc., in providing emergency food and shelter programs.

QUALIFYING AGENCIES ARE URGED TO APPLY. The deadline for submittal of the application to the United Way office is Friday, May 22 by 4:00 p.m. Applications received after this time will not be considered for funding.

Please provide 7 copies of the ARRA application (below).

Agencies that are willing to provide rent/mortgage/utilities are eligible to apply. The criteria for providing this service under the EFSP programs apply and can be found by clicking the documents below.

Application Guidelines

Eligible Program Costs

ARRA Application

EFSP Manual - this manual explains the requirements and documentation necessary to qualify to provide services under the program.