I just had a great conversation with Mark Nelson, my prime contact for FBCO/Volunteer Florida, and described the probable need of some homelessness service providers and other FBCOs for help in restoring their capacity to provide ongoing shelter for the homeless, as the emergency shelters close----noting that some had damage to their facilities, thereby displacing previously homeless clients, and the hurricanes are now increasing the number of new homeless---also noting our Homelessness Council meeting next week where we will get a more detailed statewide damage assessment. Other FBCOs have had their service capacities similarly disrupted while seeing an increase in potential clients needing health care, ex-offender transition, family counseling, and other human services.

Mark sent this info and encouraged FBCOs to pursue grants to fill unmet needs. The newly established Hurricane Relief Fund already has collected over $15 million and they hope to have a total of $30 million by the end of October. Go to http://www.flahurricanefund.org/procedures.php for the official description/instructions on how the grant funds are being allocated among the counties and how to apply for grants locally.

Note that the general distribution plan calls for earmarking funds to the affected counties proportionate to the number of FEMA assistance requests filed in the respective counties. Then the County Relief Fund Committees [7 members appointed by county administrator] will invite RFPs from local FBCOs/non-profits to request funds to meet specified unmet needs. Note the emphasis is on assisting health and human service organizations, rather than individual requests, and the categories are very familiar and compatible for homelessness and other human services---i.e. food, medical assistance, housing, rental/mortgage assistance, utility payments, migrant worker assistance, etc.

Feel free to pass this info on immediately if you choose. The key is to make early and personal contact with your county folks and let them know if you are interested, and then start working on submitting local applications following any local procedures. And time may be of the essence as funds are distributed first to those who apply first. Note also that the list of affected counties is incomplete, and does not yet include all those affected by all of our 4 hurricanes. So you need to keep checking the Fund website and/or county contacts for updates.