Somerset County Allocates $4.8M in Funding to Local Non-Profits for 52 Safety Net Programs

Supplements Regular Bi-Annual Non-Profit Funding with First Allocation of Federal American Rescue Plan Funding to Protect Those Most Impacted by COVID

SOMERVILLE, NJ – The Somerset County Board of County Commissioners allocated almost $4.8 million in funding to non-profits and other community safety net organizations as part of its bi-annual Non-Profit Purchase of Service (NPPOS) allocations. The 2022-23 funding is more than double any previous round with the addition of more than $2.8 million from the federal American Recovery Plan (ARP) specifically to build capacity for the post-COVID future.

“When we met with our non-profit partners in October to discuss the best way to use ARP funding to help ensure a fair and equitable recovery for all in Somerset County, we asked the leaders to think big when asking for funding in this round,” said Commissioner Director Shanel Y. Robinson. “The proposals we received were innovative and will make a real-world difference in lives of thousands of our friends and neighbors in Somerset County.”

Non-profits are invited each fall to apply for funding for programs that fit in five main categories: 1) Basic Services, 2) Mental Health, 3) Dependent Care; and 4) Assistance for Persons with Disabilities. The fifth category, substance use programming, is funded through Chapter 51 funds from the state of NJ.  This year, because of the addition of ARP funding, six agencies received funding through the NPPOS process for the first time and eight new programs were created.

“Many non-profit organizations are significant contributors to making Somerset County the dynamic and progressive community it continues to be, and we are happy to provide the funding so they can continue their excellent work,” said Commissioner Paul Drake, liaison to the Human Services Department. “The combination of private and public efforts creates the safety net that helps our residents get through the hard times caused by the COVID pandemic, financial losses, or mental health issues and come out the other side strong and ready to thrive.”

The traditional NPPOS allocations of $1.9 million will fund 25 programs addressing the real needs of our communities, including housing resources, legal services, continuum of care and supportive housing, mental health assessments and counseling, mentoring programs for youths, adult day care, child are, and workforce development. The majority of the non-profits providing these services are returning from previous years, with one new agency receiving funding for children’s mental health services.

The $2.8 million in ARP funding includes a significant number of previously funded agencies with five that had not previously applied. These agencies will provide an additional 26 programs including nine new programs never before funded by Somerset County. The efforts funded in this portion include mental health programs for women and children, addiction recovery, food insecurity prevention, residential support, and more safety net programs.

The NPPOS process is driven by the Somerset County Department of Human Services and is a key strategy to measure the needs of county residents in a data driven manner so the County and its non-profit partners can deliver fiscally sound services. The allocations are designed to provide a safety net of essential services for residents of Somerset County who meet the federal guidelines of low and low-moderate income guidelines up to 350% of the 2021 Federal Poverty Index.

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