Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, United Way of Southern Nevada (UWSN) has stood at the center of the community to help Southern Nevada. UWSN is proud to announce the first round of funding to 13 nonprofits that will provide food, housing and utility assistance to families and individuals.
“This funding is going directly out to the community with no administrative fee to help meet the huge need that grows daily,” said Kyle B. Rahn, President & CEO United Way of Southern Nevada. “The need is growing by the day, as of today we need over $3 million more to help families and individuals survive during these very challenging times.”
50 organizations requested over $5 million in funding from the Emergency Assistance and Community Needs Fund. With nearly $2 million currently in the fund, UWSN needs the community’s support to help raise $3 million more to provide immediate needs assistance. UWSN is encouraging organizations and individuals to donate at uwsn.org/donate or by texting “UWSNFUND” to 313131.
Individuals can contact Nevada 2-1-1 at 1-866-535-5654 to find the needed resource for assistance from the following 13 organizations that received funding in this phase:
Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada
Providing mass shelter options.
East Valley Family Services
Providing a food pantry and rent and mortgage assistance.
Emergency Aid of Boulder City, Inc.
Providing rent, mortgage and other shelter assistance.
Family Promise of Las Vegas
Providing rent, mortgage and other shelter assistance.
HELP of Southern Nevada
Providing rent, mortgage and utility assistance.
HopeLink of Southern Nevada
Providing a food pantry and rent and mortgage assistance.
Jewish Family Service Agency
Providing a food pantry and rent, mortgage and utility assistance.
Lutheran Social Services of Nevada
Providing a food pantry and rent and mortgage assistance.
Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth
Providing food assistance.
Safe Nest, TADC
Providing a food pantry and rent and mortgage assistance.
Salvation Army – Las Vegas
Providing a food pantry and rent and mortgage assistance.
United Labor Agency of Nevada
Providing rent, mortgage and utility assistance.
U.S. Vets Las Vegas
Providing a food pantry and rent and mortgage assistance.
A local board made up of community leaders determined how the funds were distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local non-profit direct service agencies in the area. Approximately 50 percent of the $2 million has been awarded to 13 currently vetted emergency assistance nonprofit partners. The local board will be reviewing additional proposals this week to distribute the remaining funds available.
As a community leader with over 60 years of experience uniting individuals, companies, nonprofit organizations, and governmental agencies to create positive change in Southern Nevada, United Way of Southern Nevada (UWSN) has mobilized the community and acted quickly to develop solutions for those in need. United Way of Southern Nevada’s immediate actions to address the COVID-19 crisis include: providing basic needs funding, convening nonprofit and community stakeholders, serving as a hub for volunteers, and creating an asset map of available resources and referrals for the most vulnerable which is accessible at UWSN.ORG/COVID19.
For more information about the UWSN Emergency Assistance and Community Needs Fund, please email COVID19@uwsn.org.
About United Way of Southern Nevada:
United Way of Southern Nevada unites our community to improve people’s lives. We bring donors, volunteers, nonprofits, and businesses together to help children enter school ready to learn, help high school students reach graduation day, and support individuals working to earn a degree or certification, all while creating stability for their families. Together, we step into the ring and invite others to stand with us as a united front against social injustices and forces keeping our community’s most vulnerable residents from a good life. We are bold and innovative to solve our toughest problems. Together, we fight for the future of our community – and we will win. Join us at uwsn.org.
About the UWSN Emergency Assistance and Community Needs Fund
With over 30 years of experience in distributing emergency funding, help will be available through nonprofit organizations who are experienced in providing direct service assistance. To ensure accountability of the distribution of funds, UWSN is following the same stringent guidelines it utilizes for the administration of Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) funds through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). To ensure all donated funds are distributed to needs resulting from the COVID-19 virus and this state of emergency, Bank of America is covering all of their administrative fees and underwriting expenses related to the Emergency Assistance and Community Needs Fund account so that 100% of the donations go to local needs.