$715,000 Allocated to Support Families, Communities in Need throughout Arizona

Governor Doug Ducey announced $715,000 from the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund has been allocated to 19 organizations across the state that support individuals and families in need. The recipient organizations provide services including short-term housing, food and basic living assistance, employment support, education materials, health services and more.

“Organizations across the state have worked tirelessly to make sure Arizonans are kept safe and healthy,” said Governor Ducey. “From providing hot meals to housing assistance, education support and much more, our communities have come together to help one another during the pandemic. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund, and to the organizations and volunteers who continue to support Arizonans in need.”

The AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund was established by Governor Ducey in March as part of the Arizona Together Initiative to provide financial support to non-profit organizations working to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 and serving Arizonans most in need statewide. The fund was established to address a variety of community needs, including: funding of personal protective equipment for frontline medical personnel; supporting non-profit organizations that help vulnerable Arizonans through food banks, homeless shelters, domestic violence facilities and other services; expanding technology access for low-income students to help them transition to online learning; and more. The AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund has collected more than $9.8 million to date.

Recipients of today’s funding include:

• Salvation Army, offering support and services for a wide range of issues including homelessness, hunger, domestic abuse, veterans in need and more;
• Southwest Human Development, focusing on early child development issues including mental health, child literacy, education, disability services and child welfare;
• Jewish Family & Children’s Services Phoenix, providing a wide range of services including counseling, mental health assessment and treatment, support for victims of domestic violence, substance abuse, workforce readiness and more;
• International Rescue Committee (Phoenix and Tucson), focusing on humanitarian aid and helping those affected by crisis;
• Helping Hands for Freedom, providing emergency financial assistance to help military and Gold Star families;
• Phoenix Indian Center, assisting American Indians in job readiness, employment services, youth programs and more;
• Native American Connections, providing services relating to behavioral health, affordable housing and community development;
• Phoenix Children’s Hardship Fund, providing assistance to families needing help with rent and mortgage, food, transportation, clothing and basic needs;
• Jewish Family & Children’s Services Tucson, providing services to support families and strengthen communities including counseling, mental health assessment and treatment, support for victims of domestic violence, substance abuse, workforce readiness and more;
• Green Valley Assistance, helping seniors and families live independently;
• River Fund, providing individuals and families direct emergency and crisis services including food, temporary shelter, medical and pharmaceutical needs and more;
• Short Creek Dream Center, offering assistance in resume building, health, wellness and hosting events to encourage healthy families including hiking, biking and more;
• Greater Phoenix Urban League, offering programs relating to economic empowerment, housing, education, civic engagement, and health and wellness;
• Saving Amy, helping those facing homelessness through mentoring, supportive programs and employment support;
• Diana Gregory Outreach Services, providing fresh fruits and vegetables to seniors and veterans;
• Payson Senior Center, providing a wide range of community and home-based services to assist seniors in achieving self-sufficiency;
• Andre House, supporting those facing homelessness and communities in need;
• Homeward Bound, providing youth and adult services as well as workforce development and housing assistance; and
• Christian Family Care Agency, providing adoption and foster care services, along with counseling and support programs for children and families.

“Ensuring that Arizona families who are most in need continue to receive support is critical as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Chair of the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund committee Eileen Klein. “This round of grants to a diverse set of organizations will help our most vulnerable neighbors statewide by providing rent and mortgage assistance, meals, mental health services, transportation, basic hygiene and clothing, and much more. We’re very proud to support the important work these outstanding non-profits are doing across Arizona.”

“This grant is critical to our ability to continue to serve our families of the fallen, wounded and deployed with their financial emergencies,” said Helping Hands for Freedom CEO Eric Snelz. “Up to this point Covid-19 has dramatically affected our ability to support veteran, military and Gold Star families with basic life needs. I can’t thank this committee enough for the lifeline they have given to us so we can help them.”

“The grant that the Greater Phoenix Urban League received from the Governor’s AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund will assist us in providing employment assistance for our unemployed constituents to become employed,” said Greater Phoenix Urban League President and CEO George Dean. “It will also assist us in providing education materials and supplies for our constituents and counseling on how to receive rent and mortgage assistance.”

“Native American Connections is grateful for the grant support provided by the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund which is being used to support Native populations and families with children in NAC’s affordable housing communities,” said Native American Connections CEO Diana Yazzie Devine. “The return to remote/online school has been very challenging for our families, and having additional resources to support the successful efforts of our school-aged children has been extremely important. While continuing to navigate through this COVID-19 crisis, NAC established two primary goals to provide support for the almost 1,500 residents living in its affordable housing communities:  Nobody gets evicted; nobody goes hungry.”

“The financial support from the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund is critical to providing vital support for refugees in Arizona, many of whom serve as essential workers,” International Rescue Committee in Arizona Executive Director Aaron Rippenkroeger. “With this grant, we will continue to provide case management, health access, and job development to help these Arizonans recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Arizonans can visit ArizonaTogether.org to learn more, donate and find volunteer opportunities.