• Members of the Ingham County Board of Commissioners met June 8 to vote on issues pertaining to the county.

INGHAM COUNTY - The Ingham County Board of Commissioners authorized a contract with Capital Area Community Services and Capital Area Housing Partnership to assist Ingham County residents and businesses struggling due to COVID-19. The contract was passed during the commissioners meeting tonight in a unanimous consent agenda vote.

The proposal issued by Capital Area Community Services (CACS) is being funded by money given to Ingham County through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The act, created by the federal government for COVID-19 relief, is projected to give Ingham County around $56 million separated into two payments. CACS will be using only $5 million of the estimated first amount of around $28 million.

Although the plan is still in its initial phase, Commissioner Mark Polsdofer said the Board of Commissioners (BOC) will work closely with CACS to help the community. Commissioner Polsdofer represents District 12 which is Southern Meridian Township.

“We’re looking at a variety of programs to try and get that assistance out in a timely way, so we’re not sitting on it for such a long time that people start to fall through the cracks,” Polsdofer said.

CACS budgeted $3.6 million of the proposal to go towards direct-client assistance. They would assist families and individuals struggling because of COVID-19 with:
-Assistance with food and prescriptions
-Transportation services to appointments
-Home safety kits
-Assistance with home repairs and/or improvements
-Security for electronic devices
-And more…

Other services CACS and the BOC will provide to residents are:
-Financial literacy
-Foreclosure assistance
-Mental health and other medical assistance
-Supporting other nonprofits, community organizations and neighborhood groups

The BOC also passed a proposal by the Capital Area Housing Partnership (CAHP) for $1 million from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to help homeowners struggling to pay their mortgages, rent and utility bills due to the coronavirus.

For the second allotment of money given to the county through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Commissioner Polsdofer said the BOC is looking into ideas for how to help the community.

“If you have any ideas or know of any organizations that have been working diligently to provide services to folks and are looking for some assistance to continue their efforts, please feel free to reach out to myself or any of the other commissioners,” Polsdofer said.

Although the sign-up is not up at this moment, the BOC and CACS are working together closely to get the program application quickly to the public. The CAHP however has sign-up available on their website for Ingham County residents.