To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: Trish Muller, Finance Director
Title
Direction/Discussion: Public Safety Commission’s Recommendations for the 2016 Philip S. Miller Resource Grant Program (4 applications)
Body
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Executive Summary
The Philip S. Miller Resource Grant Program (PSMRGP) is geared toward the support of social and human services and is funded by the Philip S. Miller Trust Fund. Eligibility requirements require the organization be a 501(c)(3) or a 501(c)(19) and the funding request must include provisions for the necessities of life: water, energy, food or shelter assistance. The budgeted amount for this program in 2016 is $40,000.
There are four qualified applicants for the 2016 Philip S. Miller Resource Grant. The Public Safety Commission (PSC) reviewed the annual applications and has submitted their recommendations as to which nonprofits should receive grant monies and the amount of each award. The Public Safety Commission has recommended the following:
$15,000 to Douglas/Elbert Task Force
$15,000 to Crisis Center
$ 5,000 to Sky Cliff Center
$ 5,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver.
Staff is presenting the Public Safety Commission’s recommendation for Council’s approval.
Discussion
Applications were forwarded to the Public Safety Commission for their September 3rd meeting. All four applicants had representatives attended the PSC meeting to give a short presentation on their organization and the program related to the request for funding. A summary of each of the requests is included in (Attachment A). The Commission discussed the merits of each application, reviewed the budgets presented for each project, and referred to the history of granted amounts (Attachment B). The total amount requested was $70,000.
Douglas/Elbert Task Force requested $20,000. The Douglas/Elbert Task Force provides for the immediate needs of Douglas and Elbert County residents who are in financial distress and are at risk of becoming homeless. The requested funds would be used to purchase food for the food bank. In 2014, the Task Force assisted 15,500 people of which approximately 65% were Castle Rock residents.
Crisis Center requested $20,000. The Crisis Center provides shelter, information, advocacy and programmatic support for victims and preventative strategies to the community. The requested funding would be used to meet the operational needs of the 28 bed emergency shelter. The Crisis Center is the only agency in Douglas County trained to provide services and shelter to victims of domestic violence. In 2014, the Crisis Center assisted over 10,000 people of which approximately 25% were from Castle Rock.
Sky Cliff Center requested $10,000. Sky Cliff Center provides enrichment programs for the elderly, special needs, stroke victims and provides respite assistance to participant care givers. The requested funding would be used to provide shelter and food for participants and help offset the loss of income due to accepting Medicaid payments. 60% of the 40 participants enrolled in the day care program and 71% of the 70 participants in the Stroke Victim’s Support Group are Castle Rock residents.
Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver requested $20,000. Habitat for Humanity is a home ownership program that builds and repairs affordable homes in partnership with low income families. The requested funding would assist in the acquisition and rehab of a condominium on S. Gilbert Way. The new homeowner of this condominium may or may not be a current resident from Castle Rock.
Based on these considerations, the Commission has made the following recommendations:
Requested Recommendation
Douglas Elbert Task Force $ 20,000 $ 15,000
Crisis Center $ 20,000 $ 15,000
Sky Cliff Center $ 10,000 $ 5,000
Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver $ 20,000 $ 5,000
Total Amount Requested/Recommended $ 70,000 $ 40,000
Budget Considerations
The 2016 Budget includes $40,000 in the Philip S. Miller Fund for the 2016 Philip S. Miller Resource Grant Program.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that Council approve Public Safety Commission’s recommendations for the 2016 Philip S. Miller Resource Grant Program.
Recommended Motion
I move to approve the Public Safety Commission’s recommendations and award the 2016 Philip S. Miller Resource Grant Program monies as follows:
Douglas/Elbert Task Force $15,000
Crisis Center $15,000
Sky Cliff Center $ 5,000
Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver $ 5,000
Attachment
Attachment A: Summary of Each Request
Attachment B: 4 Year History of Granted Amounts