REGION I –Connecticut will receive $2,051,084 from FEMA for costs incurred by the Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH) due to COVID-19.
The DOH identified COVID-19 as having devastating effects both on the homeless population in Connecticut and overall public health in the state; when the needs were recognized, DOH worked with the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) to receive funds. With the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) a determination was made that non-congregate sheltering in hotels for vulnerable populations was the best option to provide the necessary social distancing to prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19 among the homeless population.
This grant is funded through FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) Grant program which reimburses communities for actions taken in the immediate response and during recovery from a disaster. Eligible applicants include states, federally recognized tribal governments, U.S. territories, local governments, and certain private non-profit organizations. The grant applications are submitted from the state, which coordinates the process with local governments.
“Taking precautions to keep the people of Connecticut safe is one of many objectives in FEMA’s Public Assistance grant program. These funds are essential to helping communities recovering from a federally declared disaster get back on their feet,” said Regional Administrator and Federal Coordinating Officer Captain Russ Webster, who oversees FEMA’s operations in Connecticut.
“This funding is just one of the positive results of the partnership between FEMA and the State of Connecticut,” concluded Webster.
FEMA obligates funding for this project directly to the state of Connecticut.
Additional information about FEMA’s Public Assistance program can be found at https://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit.
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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters