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Federal Aid Quadruples Because Of High Unemployment Rate

By Carl Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: March 13, 2009

Updated:

NEW PORT RICHEY - With unemployment high in Pasco County, the federal government will quadruple the amount of money for local food pantries and shelters.

Ordinarily, Pasco County would have received $77,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, according to Susan Arnett, president of United Way of Pasco County.

United Way of Pasco helps divvy up the funds among community aid groups.

But FEMA is writing a check for $317,000 this year as part of its Emergency Food and Shelter Program. That's more than four times as much money as it normally sends.

The money can go toward basic needs such as food, shelter and utilities, Arnett said.

"It's great news that we got the increase," Arnett commented. "It's bad that we have the need."

FEMA uses unemployment rates as one factor in funding, Arnett elaborated.

Pasco County's unemployment rate hit 10.8 percent in January, according to the latest state labor market figures.

The ranks of the Pasco unemployed have soared since January 2008, when the unemployment rate stood at 6.1 percent.

State officials calculate more than 21,200 people were without jobs in Pasco as of January. That means the ranks of the unemployed here shot up by more than 9,300 people since January 2008.

So 14 Pasco nonprofit groups or county agencies here will share the extra FEMA money. They are:

• Gulf Coast, $20,000; Volunteer Way food bank, $15,000.

• Pasco County Elderly Nutrition, $50,596; Youth and Family Alternatives, $14,950.

• Daystar, $15,000.

• Pasco County Human Services, $60,000.

• Metropolitan Ministries, $27,200.

• Salvation Army, $52,120.

• Suncoast Harvest, $10,000.

• Sunrise, $27,500.

• Coalition for the Homeless, $10,000.

• Beacon Community Church, $6,000.

• Holy Ground shelter, $5,000.