United Ways of Utah act quickly to mobilize Utahns through COVID-19 Community Response Fund
Author: UtahPolicy.com
Utah's six local United Ways worked quickly to develop a statewide COVID-19 Community Response Fund and within 10 days have distributed the first round of funding – providing critical resources to organizations working to support Utahns during the Coronavirus outbreak.
The initial distribution has provided resources to communities from Logan to St. George. In Salt Lake and Davis Counties, initial grants have been made to Utah Community Action and Open Doors, two organizations working to keep people in their homes and avoid homelessness during the pandemic. The funds will be used to provide rent assistance to those who have been laid off, or had their hourly work drastically reduced, as a result of COVID-19.
"We know that the economic impacts of this pandemic are just beginning – and that to get through this we will have to work together," said Bill Crim, President and CEO of United Way of Salt Lake. "We're deeply grateful to the generous individuals and companies that have acted so quickly to get this fund started, and invite all Utahns to join us."
As of March 27, the COVID-19 Community Response Fund has raised more than $127,000 in pledged donations from both individual donors and corporate partners across the state. The Fund supports organizations working to alleviate the economic impacts many Utahns are facing, and expand their capacity to help our communities' most vulnerable citizens through services including rent and mortgage assistance, childcare, healthcare services for the under/uninsured, and 211 information and referral.
As the current situation continues to evolve, United Ways of Utah will reassess funding amounts and recipients of resources on a weekly basis and as more donations become available. For more information on the COVID-19 Community Response Fund, visit uw.org/covid19-community-fund.