HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 6924 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 6924
P i[H FO
ofsortr� To the Mayor and Members of the City Council March 20, 1984
ExA Subject:
FINAL PERFORMANCE STATEMENT
'673 EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The City Council on July S, 1983 (M&C C-6975) authorized the City Manager
to submit an application to the Texas Department of Community Affairs for
the Emergency Food and Shelter Assistance Program for $157,395. These
funds had to be spent before September 30, 1983. The City of Fort Worth
contracted with the United Way of Metropolitan Tarrant County for the
administraton and operation of the Emergency Food and Shelter Assistance
Program.
In order to facilitate delivery of food and provision of shelter, the
United Way in turn, coordinated with several of its member agencies.
Catholic Social Services performed as "lead" agency, and was assisted by
the Salvation Army and the Union Gospel Mission (both of which provided
on-site feedings and shelter). The Food Bank of Greater Tarrant County
was responsible both for purchasing food for the on-site feeding Centers
and for furnishing food baskets for distribution to eligible families.
Food basket distribution was performed by the Northside Inter Church
Agency (NICA) , Catholic Social Services, Northeast Emergency Distribution
(NEED) , and the Davis Avenue Church of Christ. Food vouchers, redeemable
at any Safeway in the County, were issued to eligible individuals by the
City's Neighborhood Resources Development Centers, Catholic Social Services,
First Call for Help (in both Fort Worth and Arlington) , the Red Cross, and
Northeast Emergency Distribution - NEED (in Northeast Tarrant County) .
In addition to shelter provided by the Salvation Army (at $4.00 per bed per
night) and the Union Gospel Mission ($3.50 per bed per night) , an Arlington
motel provided rooms for a fixed rate of $20.00 per room per night to
eligible individuals/families residing in that part of the County.
The program began actual operations during the first week of August and,
between that time and September 30, 1983, 86,396 meals were served; of
these, 46,396 were distributed with vouchers, and 40,000 were from the
Food Bank; 5,058 nights of shelter were provided. Though plans originally
called for media assistance in publicizing the program, this was found to
be unnecessary, as "word-of-mouth" provided all of the applicants that
could be accomodated by the available fads.
The final cost of the program's operation was $156,101.74. The cooperation
of the above mentioned agencies allowed services to be provided to citizens
who were in need of assistance, even though the program guidelines allowed
a short period of time to implement the program.
If additional information is needed it will be provided upon request.
�obert L. Herchert
RLH:kc City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER --- FORT WORTH, TEXAS