Barton County has been chosen to receive $3,815 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.
Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must pick up an application at the Family Crisis Center Inc., 1924 Broadway in Great Bend. The deadline for applications to be received is Friday.
“These funds help programs provide some much needed assistance to community members struggling to pay utilities, make their rent payments or put food on the table,” said Laura Patzner, executive director of the Family Crisis Center.
Barton County’s selection was made by a national board chaired by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency. It 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.
A Local Board will determine how the funds awarded to Barton County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the area. The 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 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.
Patzner said this is funding Barton County has received for many years, but this year it did not receive the federal dollars due to not meeting the revised requirements. These funds come from state set-aside dollars that were to be given to areas not eligible to receive the federal allotment.