The City of Bloomington is giving $250,000 to local nonprofits to help residents experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
This will be the fourth year for the city’s Downtown Outreach Grants.
Special projects program specialist for the Community and Family Resources Department Marissa Parr-Scott said the grants have become crucial to homeless services in Bloomington.
“For example, the funding that Beacon requested went toward paying their weekend staff that the Shalom Center, which was pretty crucial,” Parr-Scott said. “That's a big resource for people to be able to shower and do laundry and get lunch.”
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In addition to staff salaries, organizations have used the grants for projects like a vaccination clinic for pets belonging to housing insecure clients and emergency hotel stays for families.
Applying organizations are selected by the Community and Family Resources Department. A selection committee evaluates applications based on an organization’s plans, project history and standing with local and state government.
According to Parr-Scott, it’s mainly the same applicants who win grant money each year. Beacon, Centerstone, Bloomington Homeless Coalition, Middle Way House and the Monroe County Humane Association were among last year’s recipients.
The deadline for organizations to apply is Dec. 5 at 5 p.m. Recipients will be announced by Dec. 15.
