Department of Human Services Needs Your Help to Obtain a Grant

Barbara Butler, Director of Westport’s Human Services, has announced that the community challenge grant from United Way of Coastal Fairfield County to help under-employed and unemployed homeowners has been extended to Monday, Aug. 1.

The Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) challenge grant through a partnership with GE Foundation is helping Westport families in need.

“This grant helps families struggling financially and facing a housing crisis receive timely and significant financial support for their mortgage or rental payment or an emergency utility assistance,” said Butler.

This year the GE Foundation and the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County set aside $550,000 to support food pantries, and emergency housing and assistance programs.

“We are thrilled to be considered for this grant activity but we need the community’s help to qualify. The Neighbors Helping Neighbors Community Challenge grant asks that every organization applying for a grant participate in raising an additional $100,000 for the fund,” Butler said.

“The Neighbors Helping Neighbors Grants have been a great help to us in the past two years. We have applied to be a part of this tremendous opportunity and our challenge is to raise a minimum of $2,500 from at least 25 individuals by Monday, Aug. 1. “Every dollar we raise will be added to the grant we will receive” she said.

There are two options for citizens wishing to contribute:

1. Send a check directly to Westport Dept. of Human Services, 110 Myrtle Ave., Westport, CT 06880 made out to UWCFC Neighbors Helping Neighbors Community Challenge Grant. Note on the check that your donation is for Westport Human Services NHN.
2. Donate online — go to http://www.unitedwaycfc.org/nhnchallenge

The United Way of Coastal Fairfield County, the GE Foundation and the Westport Human Services Department are working together to support families in need with financial assistance towards one month of mortgage or rent assistance.

“This United Way NHN grant is the only fund available to the department to help families with one month’s mortgage or rental payment with a maximum assistance of $1,500,” said Butler.

“Families are helped by the department to utilize the available resources to manage their future payments by developing a financial plan including other appropriate benefit programs to maintain stability and remain in their homes.”

Butler gratefully recognized the generosity of the community to those less fortunate.

To review the “Neighbors Helping Neighbors Challenge Grant” access the town’s website under the Department of Human Services. See http://www.westportct.gov/neighbor-to-neighbor [PDF] for the complete grant application.