*This is an archive page. The links are no longer being updated.
1992.10.28 :  Hurricane Andrew

Larry Dye (202) 401-9215
October 28, 1992

       HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., today announced the
availability of $37 million in grants to alleviate the impacts of
Hurricanes Andrew and Iniki and Typhoon Omar on the residents of
Florida, Louisiana, Hawaii and Guam.
       The grants will go out through the social service programs
of the Administration for Children and Families.  An overall
total of $105.6 million has been appropriated to provide
hurricane relief through ACF programs and other HHS health and
aging programs.
       "These grant funds will enable storm victims --
particularly children and their families -- to get on with their
lives," said Secretary Sullivan.  "Transportation, counseling,
employment assistance, child care and support services are some
of the many needed services that will help these victims recover
from the devastation of the storms."      
       The grants are authorized under Public Law l02-368, the
Dire Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act.  HHS'
Administration for Children and Families will allocate funds
among the following activities:
       $30 million has been allocated to these jurisdictions
under the Social Services Block Grant and the Community Services
Block Grant programs.  States will be able to provide a host of
social services, such as child care, transportation and
employment. 

     o Social Services Block Grant (SSBG)         $20,000,000
     o Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)      $10,000,000

       A total of $7 million will be available to affected
grantees, including Head Start, Runaway and Homeless Youth and
the United Houma Tribe of Louisiana.  Affected grantees will be
contacted directly by HHS to apply for these emergency funds.    
     o Head Start                                 $  4,000,000
     o Runaway and Homeless Youth                 $  1,000,000
     o Assistance to United Houma Tribe, Louisiana $ 2,000,000
       Jo Anne B. Barnhart, assistant secretary for children and
families, said, "This new money can help pay for a range of
social services for children and families that will enable them
to repair their lives to achieve self-sufficiency." 
       The following is a description of the funded programs:
     o Social Services Block Grant - provides funds to states to
enable them to provide a wide range of social services, including
(but not limited to):  child care, child protective services,
transportation, counseling and employment services.

     o Community Services Block Grant - provides funds to states
to enable them to provide a wide range of services to the state's
low-income population, including:  emergency assistance, housing,
training and employment services.
     
     o Head Start - provides early childhood development services
to low-income preschool children.

     o Runaway and Homeless Youth -  provides grants to local
agencies to enable them to provide emergency shelter to runaway
and homeless youth.

                                ###