FEMA grant to help fight homelessness, hunger in Monterey County

Salinas >> A Federal Emergency Management Agency grant provided $298,982 to Monterey County for local service agencies to offer food, housing and utility assistance for those in need, Rep. Jimmy Panetta announced Tuesday.

The grant comes from FEMA's Emergency Food and Shelter Program, which provides funds to supplement food, shelter, rent, mortgage and utility assistance for people with emergencies that are not disaster related. Eligible service agencies must be private, voluntary nonprofit or local government agencies to receive the funding. They must demonstrate an ability to deliver emergency food or shelter assistance, have an accounting system that conducts an annual audit and practice nondiscrimination. Nonprofit organizations must have a voluntary board of directors.

"These grants help local organizations provide our neighbors in need with a roof over their heads and food on the table," Panetta said in a news release. "By working directly with local service agencies who work to combat homelessness and hunger, the federal government is better able to serve our communities."

The FEMA grant provided $177,480 to Santa Cruz County and $35,317 to San Benito County.