Tim Leeds Havre Daily News tleeds@havredailynews.com
The local Federal Emergency Management Agency board has announced that Hill County will receive supplemental federal money to help with emergency food and shelter programs and is looking for requests for use of the money. The national FEMA board has allocated $8,244 to supplement food and shelter programs in the county, the local board said in a press release. Previous allocations have been made to the Havre Food Bank, the Feed My Sheep Soup Kitchen and the Center for Mental Health, formerly known as the Golden Triangle Mental Health Center. Those agencies provided 1,125 meals, 10 nights of lodging and emergency rental payments for two families in 2008 through the FEMA p ayment s, s a i d Di ane Savasten-Getten of the District IV Human Resources Development Council. The amount Hill County was awarded this year is nearly double the Amount awarded last year, she added Hill County received $4,738 in 2008. Under the terms of the grant from the national board, organizations receiving the local funding must be private nonprofits or units of government, have an accounting system, practice nondiscrimination and have demonstrated the capability to deliver the emergency services and must have a voluntary board. In its release, the local board urged all qualifying organizations to apply. The Hill County FEMA board will determine how the funds will be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs administered by local service organizations, the release said. It will recommend agencies to receive the funds and any additional funds that are available under the program. The award to Hill County was made by the national board, chaired by FEMA and comprising representatives from the Salvation Army; American Red Cross; United Jewish Communities; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U. S.A.; and the United Way of America, which will provide the administrative staff and act as fiscal agent for the grants. The national board was charged with distributing funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in areas of high need around the United States, the release said. Organizations interested in applying for a share of the federal money need to send a letter, postmarked by March 13, to Diane Savasten-Getten at District IV HRDC, 2229 Fifth Ave., Havre, MT 59501. The letter must state the amount of funds requested and their intended use. The Hill County FEMA board will determine the final allocation of the money.
