The Brown County Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Assistance Program will provide short-term, financial assistance to alleviate hardships caused by COVID-19 closings.
Distributed by the Brown County township trustees, the assistance program will provide two types of assistance: for rent/utilities and medical/healthcare transportation. This short-term financial assistance is to pay for electric, gas, water, rent expenses, medical expenses and/or transportation.
The program is for Brown County residents who have, because of COVID-19, temporarily or permanently lost employment, and who also have limited or no other financial resources.
The application for assistance must be made through a Brown County township trustee in accordance with the Indiana State Township Assistance Guidelines and Ind. Code 12-7-2-20.5, who will be holding said monies as a grant fund. The trustee will ensure that the requested/approved financial assistance will be paid to requested vendors, such as landlords, utility companies, or pharmacy and transportation facilities.
This assistance will pay past and current bills, but not a future expense.
Applicants must be willing to verify they are unemployed by providing a layoff notice or termination letter. They must also provide copies of the invoices or bills for which financial assistance is requested according to State of Indiana Township Assistance Guidelines and Ind. Code 12-7-2-20.5. All applications and supporting documents will subsequently be provided to the BCCF as part of IRS expenditure responsibility expectations.
The maximum allowable grant assistance per family is $500. Trustees are not expected to cover the entire need.
In seeking assistance, contact the trustee of your township. Applicants must complete a one-page COVID-19 application that is required by the State of Indiana for township assistance along with a notice of public law and a consent to the disclosure of information to the township trustee.
Applicants will also need to provide copies of the current leases, invoices or bills for which financial assistance is requested and a photo ID. Copies of all applications and billing paperwork, with paid receipts will be kept on file, for future auditing by the State of Indiana, with copies also going to the Brown County Community Foundation when grant has been completed.
Applications will be available from township trustees as follows:
- Hamblen Township Trustee Phillip Stephens, 812-474-0140
- Jackson Township Trustee Sandra K. Higgins, 812-320-4564
- Washington Township Trustee Brandon Magner, 812-720-1439
- Van Buren Township Trustee Vicki Payne, 812-988-4019
For more information, or with questions for the foundation, call 812-988-4882 or visit browncountygives.org.
