Apply for food, shelter grants

Ventura County has been selected to receive funds for supplementary emergency food and shelter programs in the county. Last year's local funding was $439,273, and 2009 funding should be a similar amount.

The Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program (EFSP) is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency and has been entrusted through the McKinneyVento Homeless Assistance Act "to supplement and expand ongoing efforts to provide shelter, food and supportive services" for the nation's hungry, homeless and people in economic crisis.

Local qualifying agencies are urged to apply for these funds. Agencies selected to receive funds must:

•be private voluntary nonprofits or units of government •have an accounting system

•practice nondiscrimination

•have demonstrated the capability to deliver rental assistance/eviction prevention assistance or emergency food and/or shelter program assistance

•have a voluntary board if a private voluntary organization

Public or private agencies interested in applying for the funds can obtain an application online at www.vcunitedway.org/Impact.

Agencies may also request an application by calling Nancy Older at United Way of Ventura County, (805) 485-6288, ext. 227.

The local board will complete an official review of submitted applications and schedule some site visits during the week of Jan. 19 to 23 for eligible applicants.

Application deadline is 3 p.m. Jan. 6. The original application and 16 copies must be delivered or mailed to the United Way office, 1317 Del Norte Road, Ste. 100, Camarillo, CA 93010, attention: Nancy Older.