Pueblo United Way to distribute $96,000 to agencies fighting homelessness and hunger

James Bartolo, The Pueblo Chieftain
·2 min read
Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds distributed by United Way of Pueblo County may be used by organizations to buy groceries for food distributions, provide lodging at mass shelters and more.
Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds distributed by United Way of Pueblo County may be used by organizations to buy groceries for food distributions, provide lodging at mass shelters and more.

United Way of Pueblo County will distribute $96,672 in federal funds to local organizations providing food and shelter services.

Applications are open for 501(c)3 nonprofits, faith-based organizations and government agencies until 11:59 p.m. March 6. Funds come from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program. Organizations may use funds to provide food, lodging at mass shelters, rent assistance, mortgage assistance, utility assistance, supplies and more to those in need.

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"These funds are critical to being able to support the emergency needs of folks who are in the most need," said Bianca Hicks, vice psStrategic operations for United Way of Pueblo County. "Things like food and shelter really are basic services that everyone in our community should be entitled to."

Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must be used as a supplement an organization's existing services and may not be used to create new programs. Organizations also must have Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) — a 12-character identification code assigned by SAM.gov. Individuals may not apply for funds directly.

United Way of Pueblo County has administered funds from the Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program for about 40 years, Hicks said. Funds have been awarded every one to one-and-a-half years to United Way of Pueblo County based on factors like local poverty rates, population and unemployment rates.

Typically, about 15 food, shelter and direct care organizations receive Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program funding from United Way of Pueblo County. Parameters are not set for amounts an individual organization may receive.

"We just ask that organizations be mindful that we are trying to make the biggest impact that we can," Hicks said.

Funding previously has been given to the Pueblo Rescue Mission, Ecumenical Church of Pueblo West, Pueblo Cooperative Care Center, Catholic Charities of Southern Colorado, Posada of Pueblo and Rocky Mountain SER, among other organizations.

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Outside of the Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program, applications for additional funding opportunities through United Way are currently open. The Community Problem Solving Grant is an endowment to United Way from the El Pomar Foundation aimed to assist indigent populations and people experiencing homelessness. Community Problem Solving Grants are open until March 4.

Organizations may apply for Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds or lean about additional funding opportunities online at pueblounitedway.org/funding-opportunities. Applicants must attend a March 8 meeting on the second floor of the Security Service Federal Credit Union building, 310 E. Abriendo Ave., at 10 a.m. Potential applicants also may contact Hicks by email at bianca@pueblounitedway.org, for information.

Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached by email at JBartolo@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo United Way opens applications for federal food, shelter funds