Monroe applies for grants to help children, homeless
Monroe County is applying for grants to help programs dealing with mental health, children and homeless people.
Nancy Brown, grants manager for the county presented the 2018/2019 proposed uses for the Homeless Assistance Program and the Human Services Development Fund grants in a public hearing before the May 16 commissioners meeting.
Brown said that the homeless program funds of $45,176 would serve 742 people. Forty-two would receive short term housing assistance, 192 would receive rental assistance through Family Promise of Monroe County and 490 would receive emergency housing assistance through The Women’s Resource Center and the Salvation Army.
“These are sometimes people who lose a job or become ill and can’t work,” said Brown. “Sometimes that is the difference from homeownership to homelessness.”
The human services funds of $84,157 will provide other emergency and long-term services to help 3,140 people.
Some of the services include transportation for the blind, mental health services and children’s programs.
Pocono Alliance Services Coordination Assistance is expected to help about 3,000 of those people through a number of programs such as “Cops and Kids”.
Brown explained that “Cops and Kids” brings the two together in a social environment. The officers bring books to the children.
The commissioners also proclaimed May Foster Care Month and recognized May 19-25 as National Safe Boating Week.
Rich Widdoss was recognized for more than 30 years with the county, including the last 24 as the head of the Monroe County Housing Authority.
The commissioners also adopted a resolution to participate in an incremental tax plan with Middle Smithfield Township and the East Stroudsburg School District. The tax plans allow a percentage of tax revenue to be paid to the county development authority to pay down financing for large development projects in the county. During the set period the percentage of tax which is higher than the tax assessed on the undeveloped land is used to service the debt incurred during the development. Once the plan runs its course, the higher tax is paid to the county, the school district and the municipality.
The plan is Middle Smithfield Township is to improve traffic flow in an area that is under development.
Middle Smithfield Township and the school district still have to agree to the plan.
Christine Meinhart, Eric Koopman, Carl Gould II, Roger Christman, Commissioner John Christy and Greg Christine were appointed to the Metropolitan Planning Organization to serve from July 1 to June 30, 2019.
An On-Premises Software License and Service Agreement was approved with Civil Solutions for web interface for the county GIS map for May 2018 through May 2020 at an annual cost of $5,000.
A quote was accepted in the amount of $10,752 from KFT Fire Trainers LLC to replace defective regulators and relief valves at the Fire School Training Building.
