United Way of Greater Chattanooga announces that Hamilton County has been awarded federal funds made available through the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Food and Shelter national board Program.
Hamilton County has been chosen to receive $147,611 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county. This is a decrease from the previous award of $160,040.
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 made up of United Way of Greater Chattanooga, Catholic Charities, Tennessee Department of Human Services, Chattanooga Department of Youth and Family Development, Chattanooga Room in the Inn, Salvation Army, Greater Chattanooga Area American Red Cross, Team Center, Family Promise of Greater Chattanooga, Signal Mountain Social Services, Jewish Community Federation, Chattanooga Area Food Bank, Northside Neighborhood House, Chattanooga Community Kitchen, Metropolitan Ministries, the Samaritan Center, and Partnership for Families, Children and Adults will determine how the funds awarded to Hamilton 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 by Friday, July 14 by 5 p.m.
Hamilton County has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter funds previously with Chattanooga Department of Human Services, Hamilton County Social Services, the Salvation Army, Northside Neighborhood House, the Community Kitchen, Partnership for Families Children and Adults, Catholic Charities, Room in the Inn, Metropolitan Ministries, Family Promise of Greater Chattanooga, Signal Mountain Services and Chattanooga Area Food Bank participating. These agencies were responsible for providing EFSP-funded emergency services for more than 3,000 individuals during the previous year.
Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must contact Eileen Robertson-Rehberg Ph.D., United Way’s director of Community Impact, Data Analysis and Strategy, by emailing eileenrehberg@uwchatt.org or calling 423-752-0356 for an application. Applications are to be mailed (or hand delivered) to United Way of Greater Chattanooga at either 630 Market St., Chattanooga, Tn., 37402 or P.O. Box 4027, Chattanooga, Tn., 37405. The deadline for applications to be received is Friday, July 14 by 5 p.m.