Deschutes County has been chosen to receive $91,588 in federal funding to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.

Public or private voluntary organizations interested in applying for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must contact Jane Wendell at United Way of Deschutes County at 389-6507. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 19.

The selection was made by a national board that is chaired by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency, and is composed of representatives from national charities and relief organizations which provide supplemental funding to shelters, soup kitchens, food banks, rent, mortgage, and utility assistance programs, such as The Salvation Army, American Red Cross, United Jewish Communities, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and United Way of America which will provide the administrative staff and function as fiscal agent.

The 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 local charities and local government representatives will determine how the funds awarded to Deschutes County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service organizations in the area. The local board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds available under this phase of the program.

Under the terms of the grant from the national board, local organizations chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, 2) have an accounting system, 3) practice nondiscrimination, 4) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and 5) if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board. Qualifying organizations are urged to apply.

Deschutes County has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter funds previously to the Bethlehem Inn, Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul in Redmond, Bend and La Pine, Adventist Community Services in Bend and Redmond, Sisters Kiwanis Community Service Foundation, COCAAN (Bend-Aid), COBRA, The Family Kitchen, Cascade Youth & Family Center, Bridge to Hope Ministries, LaPine Community Action Team, and Grandma’s House; all of whom provided food or emergency shelter to local people in need.

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