Emergency food, shelter funding available to Kootenai County nonprofits

COEUR d’ALENE — Local food and shelter organizations can apply for funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Kootenai County has been awarded $65,515 for the emergency food and shelter phase 41. The state also awarded Kootenai County $44,438 from some “set aside” funding for the emergency food and shelter phase 41. Phase 41 is a FEMA funding mechanism for the year 2024.

United Ways and St. Vincent de Paul locations nationwide partner with FEMA to distribute the funds. For nonprofits that may not qualify for other types of funding, such as church-based soup kitchens, the emergency food and shelter program provides a unique opportunity.

“There’s quite a few agencies that we’ve worked with over the years, everything from senior centers to church soup kitchens to food banks, and, of course, shelters like St. Vincent de Paul,” said Mark Tucker, executive director of United Way North Idaho.

Local agencies chosen to receive the funds must be private, voluntary nonprofits or units of government that are eligible to receive federal funds and have an accounting system.

“They do need to track expenses and keep receipts because it’s a reimbursement program,” Tucker said.

The agencies must practice nondiscrimination and must demonstrate the capacity to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs. Private voluntary organizations must have a voluntary board of directors.

To download the application, visit www.stvincentdepaulcda.org or www.uwnorthidaho.org.

Applications must be returned via fax or email by noon on Tuesday, April 30.