MANATEE — Struggling Manatee County families are still waiting for federal stimulus funds they were told may help them get or keep a roof over their heads starting in late October.
The Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness has yet to open applications for the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing program, which will bring in $635,000 of federal funds to Manatee County.
Richard Martin, Suncoast’s executive director, said his agency has been stretched thin providing emergency services for people affected by the economic downturn and working on its main federal grant application. Suncoast has been charged with administering the program in Manatee and Sarasota counties.
In early October, Martin said he hoped the stimulus funds would begin flowing later that month.
“It’s our own (Hurricane) Katrina, of a sort,” Martin said Wednesday. “As prepared as you are, it’s difficult to rise to the challenges with the resources you’d like to bring to the table. ... Clearly it’s not fast enough. We wish we could be better than we are.”
Martin said agreements are being finalized with the six agencies that will take applications and qualify families for the aid in Manatee County. A training session for the agencies is set for Wednesday, he said.
Martin said his office and the two main agencies that will administer the program — the Community Coalition to End Homelessness and The Salvation Army — have received “hundreds” of calls from families hoping to take advantage of the funds.
The Salvation Army said it has created a list of people who are interested in the program.
“That was the hope,” Salvation Army Social Services Manager Ellen Potrikus said of the late October arrival of funds. “Obviously it’s been put off some because of the details. It’s causing hardship for the people who can’t get funds. Meanwhile, we just keep giving the services we can give.”
Under the program, renters owing back rent and facing eviction can receive money for rent and utilities to remain in their homes. Families already homeless can get money for rent, utility and security deposits in order to get into rental housing.
The grant money cannot be used for home mortgage payments.
The state is receiving almost $65.3 million in Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing grants. Sarasota County will receive $581,819, but its program has not begun either, Martin said.
The program is up and running in other areas. A Pinellas County Web site said its program began Oct. 12. In Hillsborough County, applications were being taken Nov. 2, according to that county’s homeless coalition Web site.
Tim Wolfrum, staff, can be reached at 745-7015.
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