Congressman Jimmy Panetta today announced San Benito County social service agencies and their patrons will be among those receiving more than a half-million dollars from the feds for food and shelter services.
According to an announcement from Panetta:
Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) today announced that Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties received $511,779 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) for local social service agencies to offer food, housing, and utility assistance for those in need. Specifically, Monterey County received $298,982, San Benito County received $35,317, and Santa Cruz County received $177,480.
“These grants help local organizations provide our neighbors in need with a roof over their heads and food on the table,” said Congressman Panetta. “By working directly with local service agencies who work to combat homelessness and hunger, the federal government is better able to serve our communities.”
EFSP funds are used to supplement food, shelter, rent, mortgage, and utility assistance programs for people with non-disaster related emergencies. In order to apply for EFSP funds, eligible service agencies must be a private, voluntary non-profit, or local government; eligible to receive federal funding; have a demonstrated ability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter assistance; have an accounting system and conduct an annual audit; practice non-discrimination; and if a non-profit, have a voluntary board of directors.
