DeSoto County has been chosen to receive $14,628 to supplement Emergency Food and Shelter Programs in the county. This amount is determined by the number of people in the population who claim unemployment. The selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by the Department of Homeland Security’s federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, The Salvation Army, United Jewish Communities and United Way of America. The local board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country.

A local board made up of members of the above agencies will determine how the funds awarded to the county are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the area. The local board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds available under this phase of the program.