JOSEPH COUNTY HAS BEEN AWARDED FEDERAL FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS)/FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY UNDER THE EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER NATIONAL BOARD PROGRAM.

St Joseph County, Indiana has been chosen to receive $128,225 through Phase 38 of the Emergency Food and Shelter Programs in the county.

The selection was made by the 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 St Joseph County 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 community leaders will determine how the funds awarded to St Joseph 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 these two phases of the program.

Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary nonprofits 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.

St Joseph County has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter funds previously with Salvation Army of St. Joseph County, St. Vincent DePaul Society, United Religious Community, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fort Wayne South Bend, Broadway Christian Parish UMC, Center for the Homeless, United Way of St. Joseph County, La Casa de Amistad, YWCA of North Central Indiana, REAL Services, Hope Ministries, St. Margaret’s House, Mishawaka Food Pantry, Inc., Life Treatment Centers, and Dismas House of Indiana participating. These agencies were responsible for providing several thousand meals and nights of lodging.

Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must contact Laura Jensen at ljensen@uwsjc.org for an application. The deadline for applications to be received is 5:00 PM on January 29, 2021.