Maricopa County disperses more funds to help those affected by coronavirus
Oct 2, 2020, 4:55 AM
PHOENIX — Maricopa County is giving out an additional $20 million of federal CARES Act funds to help residents struggling through the coronavirus pandemic.
For months, Maricopa County has been giving money to people that the pandemic has left underemployed or unemployed.
In a webinar with news reporters Thursday, Human Services Director Bruce Liggett shared one east valley woman’s story.
“A grandmother, in fact, who gained custody of her grandchildren when her daughter passed away due to COVID,” he said, not disclosing her name or city of residence. “She was employed, but she was overwhelmed by caring for the additional children.”
Liggett said the woman received rental and utility assistance from a new pool of funds, which she said will help her buy her grandchildren clothes and stop her from worrying about where to go if the rent and utilities didn’t get paid.
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Another example of how the program has helped residents was a West Valley woman who received rental help while awaiting a kidney transplant, Liggett said.
He said the county is reducing requirements for rental and utility assistance so more people qualify.
Another $5 million will help non-profits providing community services to cover making modifications to how they deliver services.
That could include putting up barriers to stop the spread of the coronavirus, and boosting electronic capabilities to communicate with clients remotely.
Food banks will split $3 million, and the Arizona Food Bank Network will manage it.
“Grants will be provided to large organizations who distribute one million lbs. of food each year,” CEO Angie Rodgers said. “Their stability and consistency in helping to feed large numbers of Maricopans safely is important.”
Smaller kitchens, like those at churches, will also get a share of the money. It will cover more than food.
“Funds will be used to buy refrigeration, freezer space, repair older equipment, and it may help to pay staff salaries and recognized the overtime that many are working right now,” Rodgers said.
The end goal is to feed as many hungry people as possible, those like Evelyn, whom Rodgers said relied heavily on the tips she earned as a server in a decimated restaurant industry.
“Without the help of a food bank, she’s not sure where to turn,” Rodgers said. “She’s worried about things not returning to normal. She’s worried about people not coming to restaurants, and she’s worried about being able to protect herself when she is able to go back to work.”
The last $6 million of the $20 million goes specifically to renters in Mesa. Even though that had its own supply of CARES Act money, the county kept receiving renters’ applications, so Maricopa County will process the remaining claims, county spokesman Fields Moseley said.
