United Way of Summit County will oversee distribution of federal funds made available through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program designated for Summit County. Summit County will be awarded $229,126 for calendar year 2016 (a decrease of 9%) under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program. The funds are to be used by eligible local service agencies to supplement and expand the capacity of existing emergency food and shelter programs in Summit County. Funds are not to be used for creating new programs. A National Board made up of representatives from national organizations and chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designated the grant. The Summit County Emergency Food and Shelter Local Board, consisting of representatives from voluntary, governmental, and religious sectors will determine how to allocate the Summit County award among local eligible emergency food and shelter programs.
Under terms of the grant, local organizations receiving funds must (1) be private, voluntary nonprofit or units of government; (2) have an accounting system and conduct an annual audit by an independent accountant depending on the award amount; (3) practice non-discrimination; (4) operate an ongoing program that has demonstrated capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs; (5) have computer and internet access; and (6) have a voluntary board, if a private, voluntary organization. In 2015 the Summit County local board has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter Funds to 12 participating agencies, which provided more than 409,276 meals, 12,221 nights of shelter, paid 205 utility bills and provided 133 units of rent/mortgage assistance.
Eligible organizations interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must contact the United Way of Summit County, Community Impact Division, at 330-643-5510. The application deadline is 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, 2016.