Local Board recommends $20,982 in
federal dollars be awarded to The Hope Center and Bridges Community Action for rent and mortgage
support in Union County June 24, 2020
The Union County Local Review Board submitted a plan to award $12,973 from Phase CARES to The Hope Center and $8,009 from
Phase 37 to Bridges Community Action. Both local agencies will use the funding to supplement emergency rent and
mortgage assistance in the county under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program (EFSP). The plan is pending final approval by the EFSP.
EFSP is a federal fund administered locally by The United Way of Union County. Corinne Bix, UWUC Director, serves as the local board chair.
“We are grateful for the support of our board, comprised of representatives from local government, social services,
and faith agencies,” Bix said. “United Way of Union County is proud to lead this program locally and bring together
community leaders who thoughtfully considered and assessed the applications to ensure that these federal dollars would be fully utilized.”
Any nonprofit, faith-based or local government agency located in Union County that provides these food,
shelter, and supportive services was eligible to apply for the funding.
Lorie Spain manages the Emergency Assistance Program at the Hope Center.
She said housing is an issue everywhere but is further compounded in Union County given that we don’t have a local shelter
or many affordable housing options.
“The Hope Center will be utilizing EFSP Grant Funds to assist Union County Families to secure, or stay in their
current housing by having the funds to assist with rent/mortgage or emergency stays in hotel or campgrounds until shelter or a
more permanent solution is found,” Spain explained.
Andrew Binegar, Bridges Community Action Partnership Executive Director, said his group is very thankful for the additional funds.
“We continue to have customers who, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, have difficulty maintaining their
rent and/or mortgage payments.” Binegar said, “The primary goal of the Emergency Food & Shelter Program is to generate positive financial
benefits by addressing the payment troubles of low-income customers during these uncertain times.”
Per EFSP guidelines the local board was comprised of individuals representing local government, social services, and the faith community.
Members include: Corinne Bix, United Way of Union County; Union County Commissioner Chris Schmenk; Ashley Gaver, City of Marysville;
Becky Bolt, Hope Center; Gene Miller, Marysville Area Ministerial Association;
Jason King, Council for Union County Families; Andrew Binegar, Bridges Community Action;
Claudette Colvin, The Salvation Army – Marysville; Ken McHattie, American Red Cross Volunteer;
Deacon Dave Bezusko, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church ; Jerome Shapiro, Jewish Foundation; Heath Ring, Heart of Ohio Homeless Shelter;
Laura Michalak, Union County Board of DD; Sue Ware, Union County Job & Family Services;
Dr. Phil Atkins, Mental Health and Recovery Board of Union County; Jason Stanford, Union County-Marysville Economic Development.
Under 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) have a sound accounting system, 3) practice nondiscrimination,
4) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs and
5) if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have an active board.
The amount of $20,982 to be used in Union County was allocated by a National Board that is chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
and consists of representatives from The Salvation Army; American Red Cross; United Jewish Communities; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council
of the Churches of Christ in the USA; and United Way WorldWide. The National Board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to
help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country. These dollars represent both Phase 37 of the program
and money earmarked from the recent CARES Act.
United Way of Union County, Inc., 648 Clymer Road, Suite 313, Marysville, Ohio 43040-1661
Phone 937.644.8381 Website Privacy Policy
