County seeks new grant for storm aid
The money would come from a state program that already has contributed to assisting victims of last summer's tropical storms.
By RAGHURAM VADAREVU
Published February 3, 2005
Last November, a foundation that establishes volunteer programs throughout the state sent $35,000 to Citrus County to help tropical storm-battered residents pay their bills.
The county government and social service agencies teamed up, collected 26 applications during the last two months of 2004, approved 18, and exhausted the entire grant, said Brad Thorpe, director of the county's Department of Community Services.
But those funds may not be the last from Volunteer Florida, the state foundation that gave the county the $35,000 on Nov. 23, Thorpe said.
Citrus County has applied for an additional $20,000, he said Wednesday.
"We do have some pending applications," Thorpe said, adding that the county or social service agencies in the county will not be actively seeking additional applicants.
The funds are for residents - not businesses or organizations - who, for example, already had paid to repair their homes and are now unable to pay for things such as prescription medications, utility bills or mortgages, Thorpe said.
After receiving the funds last fall from Volunteer Florida, the county set up an "unmet needs" program and convened a committee that would review the applications. The committee was composed of the Shared Services Alliances' CEO Roundtable members and the Salvation Army.
The applications were then collected and funneled through social service agencies.
Each agency assisted applicants with filing out the paperwork and arranging for applicants to provide full documentation, such as bills and invoices. After receiving 26 applications, the committee met in December and January to approve or reject applications, Thorpe said.
The funds were used to pay for 31 different bills, he said. They went to pay for debris removal, home repair, medical supplies, auto repair, mortgage payments and rent.
Raghuram Vadarevu can be reached at rvadarevu@sptimes.com or 564-3627.