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NewsJuly 2, 2009

Cape Girardeau County will apply for almost $172,000 to combat homelessness, part of $12 million set aside statewide from the stimulus bill approved by Congress in February. The money, which can be used to help pay rent, apartment deposits and utility bills, is something the county can't pass up, Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said Wednesday. ...

Cape Girardeau County will apply for almost $172,000 to combat homelessness, part of $12 million set aside statewide from the stimulus bill approved by Congress in February.

The money, which can be used to help pay rent, apartment deposits and utility bills, is something the county can't pass up, Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said Wednesday. The funding will help fill a gap in services -- there are funds available from some agencies to help with deposits and other agencies have money to help with utility bills, but dollars to help someone catch up with past-due rent payments are scarce.

"It is a real problem," Jones said of evictions related to job losses. "They usually are not eligible for anything."

Under the program, Cape Girardeau County and other counties in Missouri can apply by next week for an allocation based on poverty rates, unemployment and food stamp usage. While the counties make the application, actual operation of the program will be turned over to local agencies already dealing with housing issues on a daily basis, said Scott Rowson, director of communications for the Missouri Department of Social Services.

Along with Cape Girardeau's $171,392, other Southeast Missouri counties are also in line for help. Scott County is eligible for $136,156, Perry County can obtain $41,196 and Bollinger County can apply for $39,144.

"The counties and other local government entities have pretty substantial discretion in terms of how they use this," Rowson said. "The intent is that they will pass it along to other local agencies, community action agencies, the Salvation Army or the United Way, and they will use it to help direct recipients."

The money comes at a time when Cape Girardeau leaders have mobilized opposition to converting the Broadway federal building into a homeless shelter. The application from the Rev. Larry Rice, leader of the New Life Evangelistic Center, was rejected, but he has said he will file a lawsuit challenging the decision. A previous lawsuit by Rice over a federal building in St. Louis was dropped when he said that city had made a substantial new commitment to help the homeless.

Accepting the money does not obligate the county to continue the program once federal funds are spent, Rowson said. Nor will the counties be required to put up any matching money, he added.

In Cape Girardeau County, Jones said he has already contacted Roy Jones, no relation, who is in charge of housing programs coordinated through the Community Caring Council, and Maj. Ben Stillwell, director of the Cape Girardeau Salvation Army office.

"I am sure we can have a million dollars' worth of requests and $171,000 to work with," Jones said. "I told Roy Jones that 'you have done so much with so little for so long you can do a lot with nothing.'"

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The rules for using the funds allow help for short-term needs as well as longer periods.

When an applicant is approved for short-term help, the maximum award would be three months' rent. Under what is called medium-term help in the state action plan, an applicant could receive rental assistance for up to 18 months, including the payment of up to six months back rent.

On utility bills, the money could cover up to 18 months of bills, including six months of past-due bills.

The Scott County Commission today will finalize its letter of intent to apply, said Jamie Burger, presiding commissioner. He said he has been speaking with the Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corp. and Mission Missouri, a Sikeston-based organization, to administer the fund.

"This really would go to the needy and people who have hit hard times," Burger said. "It will help them get through the storm and get these people back on their feet."

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent addresses:

1 Barton Square, Jackson, MO

339 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO

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