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Clare County has been awarded $14,586, and an additional $20,796 via the CARES Act; Gladwin County has been awarded $11,682, and an additional $16,655 via the CARES Act; Mecosta County has been awarded $17,345, and an additional $24,729 via the CARES Act; and Osceola County has been awarded $9,069, and an additional $12,930 via the CARES Act, from the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.

A Local Board is charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country. The Local Boards will determine how the funds awarded to each county are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the area.

Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, 2) be eligible to receive Federal funds, 3) have an accounting system, 4) practice nondiscrimination, 5) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and 6) if they are a private voluntary organization, have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply.

Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must contact

Clare County: Cherri Swanstra, Clare County EFSP Board Chair, at [email protected] for an application. The deadline for applications to be received is May 28, 2020. The Local Board Meeting will be held on May 29, 2020 at 10:00am via Zoom.

Gladwin County: Cherri Swanstra, Gladwin County EFSP Board Chair, at [email protected] for an application. The deadline for applications to be received is May 28, 2020. The Local Board Meeting will be held on May 29, 2020 at 9:00am via Zoom.

Mecosta County: Diane Long, Mecosta County EFSP Board Co-Chair, at [email protected]. The deadline for applications to be received is May 28, 2020. The Local Board Meeting will be held on May 29, 2020 at 1:00pm via Zoom.

Osceola County: Malinda Coss, Osceola County EFSP Board Co-Chair, [email protected] for an application. The deadline for applications to be received is May 28, 2020. The Local Board Meeting will be held on May 29, 2020 at 2:00pm via Zoom.
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Attendance for new applicants is required.

Mid Michigan Community Action Agency (Mid Michigan CAA) is expanding to serve low-income individuals and families in Muskegon and Oceana Counties with programs aimed at giving households a hand up toward self-sufficiency.

Mid Michigan CAA is a non-profit that has been serving central Michigan communities since 1966. The organization’s mission is to guide local residents on the path to self-sufficiency through empowerment, education and community enrichment.

Services will initially include housing stability support, food assistance, and critical needs assistance.  Eligible households may receive help with past-due mortgage payments, late property taxes, food vouchers, water shut-offs, and other household emergencies.

The goal is to help alleviate a household crisis while also identifying a path toward self-sufficiency.

"We are eager to begin offering critical services to Muskegon and Oceana Counties during an unprecedented crisis. We are looking forward to building partnerships with other organizations to help meet the needs of low-income households," said Executive Director Jill Sutton.

While the timing of the expansion coincides with the coronavirus pandemic, the agency plans to serve the counties over the long term.

“We hope to be a part of the recovery and establish a long term presence in these communities” Sutton said.

To speak with staff about assistance available, call 231-660-0271 or email us at [email protected]. Due to ongoing social distancing measures and the Stay Home, Stay Safe executive order in-person services are not yet available.

“Once the shelter in place order is lifted, we will begin the process of securing office space and hiring local staff, but for now, we will provide services remotely from existing offices in nearby counties. It’s a challenging time, but we feel strongly that making services available as soon as we can will help local residents toward recovery from the pandemic challenges,” Sutton added.