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Washington, D.C. - Congressman David Price (D-NC) today announced $4.7 million in funding for local efforts in North Carolina counties to provide shelter, food and supportive services for the nation’s hungry, homeless, and people in economic crisis. As Chairman of the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Price worked to reject a Bush Administration cut to the program, which is administered by FEMA.
“At a time when many families are facing economic hardship from rising costs for food and fuel and, for some, the threat of losing their homes, we rejected the Administration’s proposed cut to this vital program to help the most vulnerable among us,” Price said. “The economic downturn is already putting a strain on local service agencies that provide relief to the poor. A cut to this FEMA program would have strained them even further in this time of need.”
The President had proposed a 7% cut to the program last year, but Price and his subcommittee rejected the cut and provided for a slight increase in their Homeland Security funding bill. Congress provided a total of $153 million this year for FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program. The President’s recently-released budget for next year seeks an even bigger cut to this program – 35%, or $53 million from the funding level provided for this year.
Locally, Wake County is receiving $355,854 from the program. Durham County is allocated $121,858, and Orange County will get $52,142.
In each funded jurisdiction, a Local Board advertises the availability of the funds, establishes local priorities, selects local non-profit and government agencies to receive supplemental funding, and monitors program compliance. The Local Boards generally include representatives from local governments and service groups such as the Red Cross, Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army, and United Way.
Program funds are used to provide the following services:
• Food, in the form of served meals or groceries
• Lodging in a mass shelter or hotel
• One month's rent, mortgage, and/or utility bill payment
• Transportation costs associated with the provision of food or shelter
• Minimal repairs to mass feeding or sheltering facilities for building code violations or for handicapped accessibility
• Supplies and equipment necessary to feed or shelter people, up to a $300 limit per item
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