Contributed photo
Contributed photo
The Fort Bend County Commission passed additional grants to bolster the support residents will receive from the social services, health, and human services departments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The commissioners unanimously agreed April 8 to approve the grants, though the funding provided will have to be accepted by the courts in another meeting.
The Texas Veterans Commission will receive a grant for $50,000 in addition to the $200,000 the commission has already received to provide relief for veterans in the means of gas, rent and utilities, among other services. Veterans who receive assistance from this grant could receive up to $2,200, although the county is considering increasing the assistance to $2,500.
“The original $200,000 allows the county to help 193 veterans; the county has already assisted 124," Anna Gonzales, county director of social services told Community Impact Newspaper. "The additional $50,000 will allow social services to provide financial assistance to a total of 235 veterans.”
As of April 21, Texas reported 20,196 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including 517 deaths. Fort Bend County has 799 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
“Since COVID-19 started, we have emailed 5,000 veterans to let them know that we have services available to them,” Gonzales said. “A lot of people needing assistance now have never needed it before."
A grant was also approved by the commissioners to benefit the Fort Bend County Social Services Department. The request enables the disbursement of $100 in gift card donations. The funds from the gift cards were used to buy necessary household items and toiletries. The money benefited 15 people of whom some were over the age of 60, including those under quarantine after testing positive for the COVID-19 virus.
A $436,091 grant application was approved to the Texas Health and Human Services. The funds are to pay for additional medical personnel including nurses and professional staff to test and collect data from patients with COVID-19.
The agreement works directly with Angel Staffing Inc. to broaden the scope of medical services provided.
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