PROCEDURE ANNOUNCED FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS TO APPLY FOR FUNDING TO HELP THE HOMELESS

for more information:
Ernie Slottag 789-2235

Mayor J. Michael Houston, members of the Homeless Advisory Committee and members of the Heartland Continuum of Care have announced that funds are now available to community groups and organizations who provide services to the homeless. The funds were collected under the City of Springfield’s Round-Up Program. Springfield residents have donated $17,174.81 through the end of April by rounding up their CWLP bills to the next highest even dollar amount or by adding other higher dollar amounts to their monthly bills.

“Making a donation through their CWLP bill is one of the easiest ways for residents to help the homeless,” said Mayor Houston. “I know the Springfield Homeless Advisory Committee is eager to get to work to get these funds out to the community to help our city’s less fortunate.”

The Springfield Homeless Advisory Committee, which has been tasked with establishing a procedure for fund distribution, will make recommendations to the City Council on where monies for local agencies serving the homeless should go.

The City of Springfield established a voluntary contribution program through which CWLP customers can “round up” their utility bill payments to the next dollar or contribute a specific amount to each utility bill payment. The “Round-Up” program was created to fund programs for the episodic and chronically homeless population in Springfield. The program continues with a special insert in the June bills, on which an application form has been printed. Additionally, the form is available for downloading from the CWLP Website (http://www.cwlp.com).

The Homeless Advisory Committee is now accepting applications from not-for-profit agencies that currently serve this homeless population. Applications for funding must be received by the Committee by July 15. The Committee will then review the applications and meet on August 4 to determine allocation recommendations.

Again, CWLP customers are asked to watch for the special Round-Up insert in their June bill.  Please fill it out and send it in with your bill payment, or sign up on line at the CWLP Website (http://www.cwlp.com). This is a painless way to help those most in need.