Food, shelter programs face Saturday deadline to apply for FEMA funds

Public or private voluntary agencies have until Saturday to apply for FEMA funds to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in Cape Girardeau County.

The county was given $23,644 in federal funds through the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program to supplement emergency food and shelter programs, according to a news release from United Way of Southeast Missouri.

The selection was made by a national board, led by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency, that includes representatives of the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities, the 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, charged to distribute funds to help expand food and shelter programs in high-need areas, includes representatives of the United Way, Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Cape Girardeau County Commissioner's office, East Missouri Action Agency, Catholic Charities, Safe House for Women, Area Agency on Aging, Jackson Ministerial Alliance and the Community Caring Council. It will determine how the funds are to be distributed among food and shelter programs run by local agencies and is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds.

Under the grant terms, local agencies receiving funds must meet these criteria: be private voluntary nonprofits or units of government, be eligible to receive federal funds, have an accounting system, practice nondiscrimination, have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs and, if it's a private voluntary organization, have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply, the release said.

Cape Girardeau County previously distributed emergency funds via the Salvation Army, Safe House for Women and East Missouri Action Agency, which provided 3,666 nights of lodging to 1,826 individuals and helped pay rent for 19 people and utilities for 752 individuals, according to the release.

Agencies interested in applying for funds must call Nancy Jernigan at the United Way of Southeast Missouri. The deadline for applications to be received is Saturday. She may be reached at 334-9634.