Mohave County has been awarded $131,690 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.

Local organizations have until March 19 to apply for a portion of the allotment, the county said.

The funds are an award under Phase 28 of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, or EFSP, and is part of 200 million appropriated by Congress to supplement and expand resources across the nation.

A national board that is chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, was called upon to identify in-need areas, and Mohave County was among the recipients chosen.

The national FEMA board consists of representatives associated with organizations including The Salvation Army; American Red Cross; United Jewish Communities; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; and United Way of America.

A local board composed of area representatives invited from The Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Catholic Charities, United Way, local Jewish Communities, local government, Indian tribes, and a homeless person or homeless person advocate will determine how the funds will be dispersed in Mohave County.

The selected funded agencies, also called local recipient organizations (LROs), will be able to use the funds for mass shelter, mass feeding, food distribution through pantries or food banks, on-month utility payments to prevent service disconnects, one month rent/mortgage assistance to prevent evictions, or assistance for people leaving shelters to establish stable living conditions, the county said.

Havasu-based organizations that have previously been awarded similar EFSP funds include Lake Havasu Community Food Bank, Lake Havasu Interagency Council, Salvation Army of Lake Havasu City and St. Vincent de Paul.

Organizations applying for the EFSP funds must meet certain criteria including non-profit status, have an implemented accounting system, practice non-discrimination, have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs as well as have a voluntary board in they are a private voluntary organization.

Qualifying organizations should send application for funding to Byron Steward, Mohave County Emergency Management, P.O. Box 7000, Kingman, AZ 86402. For email inquiries email byron.steward@co.mohave.az.us.

The local board will hold an EFSP funds allocation meeting open to the public scheduled 10 a.m. March 24 at the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office located at 600 W. Beale Street in Kingman.

All applicants are urged to attend the allocation meeting. All new applicants are required to attend, for more information contact Byron Steward or Liz Durst 928-757-0930.

Applications and Local Recipient Organization Certification Forms may be picked up at Division of Emergency Management, Mohave County Public Works office located at 3675 W. Andy Divine Avenue in Kingman.

The application and forms may also be downloaded at http://www.co.mohave.az.us/ContentPage.aspx?id=124&cid=407&page=2 on the Web.