Public Announcement: Grant Funding Opportunity

The Mesa County Department of Human Services (MCDHS) is pleased to announce grant opportunities under the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Community Investment Program for the period spanning from July 2024 to June 2025.

MCDHS cordially invites community applications through a competitive selection process utilizing the Block Grant as its primary funding source, facilitated by the Request for Applications (RFA) procedure. This funding is designated exclusively for Grantee agencies to support TANF-qualified individuals facing homelessness and/or eviction. It will be utilized for eviction prevention measures and collaboration with the Mesa County Workforce Center to facilitate employment navigation for these individuals.

The mission of the DHS is dedicated to ensuring the safety, stability, and attainment of meaningful employment for the citizens of Mesa County. Recognizing the complexity and scope of this mission, we understand the importance of collaboration with community partners to achieve our goals effectively. In pursuit of this mission, DHS is pleased to announce the availability of federal TANF funds to be awarded in the form of grants. These grants will support the delivery of services aimed at accomplishing two key federal goals of the TANF program:

• Provide assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives;
• Reduce dependency of needy families on government benefits by promoting job preparation, training, and employment;

DHS holds the responsibility of administering the TANF Program with the overarching objective of transitioning individuals from reliance upon public assistance to self-sufficiency. In this endeavor, selected Grantee(s) will collaborate closely with the Mesa County Workforce Center (MCWFC) Job Services Team throughout the Community Investment Program. Priority consideration will be given to proposals that align with the following local criteria:

1. Safety

• A whole family approach that is developmentally, culturally, and trauma-informed that meets the needs of children and youth.
• Services focused on keeping children and youth safe within their own homes and with their family.

2. Stability

• Services focused on the basic need of housing.

3. Meaningful Employment

• Opportunities, trainings and tools to increase skills and abilities so an individual may advance or establish a career to meet the needs of their family.

Eligibility for Services

This RFA is not restricted to serving families who currently receive or have ever received welfare cash assistance. For purposes of this RFA, a family is defined as at least one adult and one minor child living in the same home or a pregnancy; the family must be able to prove citizenship and have a household income of $75,000 or less. An exemption exists for the citizenship requirement if the client is a youth under age 18 or if services are delivered in life and death situations and is not means-tested. Applicants are required to establish and document eligibility using these guidelines for participants in programs and/or activities. Proportionate amounts of funding may be used if programs also serve populations that do not meet the TANF criteria DHS will not, through this RFA, be funding any activities and/or programs for non-TANF eligible populations; a thorough assessment of eligibility must be documented and retained. Such documentation will be reviewed for compliance by the contract manager.

**The TANF Grant is only for established organizations which have a (UEID) Unique Entity ID Number, found at www.sam.gov and a (FEIN) Federal Employer Identification Number.**

The TANF Grant Application deadline is May 3, 2024. If you would like an application packet please email dhs-contracts@mesacounty.us.