The Hendricks County Emergency Food & Shelter Board is responsible for the distribution of the federal funds. The local board is made up of representatives from county government, the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, United Way, Sheltering Wings, Vectren Energy, and various churches. This board will determine how the funds will be spent in the county.
Last year, the grant assisted 74 families in the with rent and mortgage assistance. The local board chose to apply the entire grant to rent/mortgage assistance because of the great need for shelter in the county.
The local board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive the funds and is looking for an organization to administer the funds. Under the terms of the grant, local 501C-3 public and private non-profit organizations interested in administering the funds and services should send a letter of interest to Susie Friend, United Way of Central Indiana in Hendricks County, P.O. Box 791, Danville, IN 46122. The deadline is April 1.
Ninety-seven percent of the funds are available for program services and 3 percent for administration. The interested organization must be a non-profit, have an accounting system and conduct an annual audit, practice non-discrimination, and have demonstrated the capacity to deliver emergency shelter and/or utility assistance programs. Qualifying agencies and churches are urged to reply.
Agencies will be required to certify if they are debarred or suspended from receiving federal funds and the local board will be certifying that they have received the certification from each agency benefiting from EFSP funding.
Hendricks County has distributed these funds preciously with United Way, Faith in Action, Community Action Agency, The Clearing House, American Red Cross, and Sheltering Wings Center.
For more information on the program, call Friend at 745-0310.
