Politics & Government

By The Numbers: Flood Victims Assistance from Non-Profits

Where did money go in the community?

How did the nonprofit community, designated to help victims from Tropical Storm Lee, distribute funds following the storm?

Frances Harris, Executive Director from Action in Community Through Service (ACTS) gave a flooding victims assistance update in the afternoon Board of County Supervisors meeting.

Harris said that ACTS and SERVE were designated to distribute funds that were donated through SPARK via the Prince William County schools education foundation system.  

Find out what's happening in Woodbridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Funds were split between ACTS and SERVE 80/20, Harris said, based on where the greatest storm damage occurred.

ACTS and SERVE retained 10 percent of the funds from SPARK for their own increased administration costs. 

Find out what's happening in Woodbridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In order for flooding victims to receive SPARK assistance, the eligibility requirements mandated that victims be registered with the American Red Cross’ Coordinated Assistance Network and complete a needs assessment application.

Checks were written to vendors, not individuals, requesting funds, said Harris. Initially, the allotment was $1,000 per household based on available funds and the number of households affected.

By the numbers, where money went:

SPARK:

  • Rental assistance $62,614 (70 households)
  • Prescription $313 (1 households)
  • Car insurance $160.57 (1 household) 

 

ACTS:

  • Rental assistance $1,000 (additional to purchase trailer)
  • Gift Cards: grocery stores $4,450, gas $3,750
  • Food

Woodbridge Lion’s Club Grant:

  • $4,450 in retail gift cards

Remaining funds:

Spark: $529.73 (additional funds will be sent from Serve/NVFS)
Acts: $21,058.75
Lion’s Club Giant: $5,000

Available funds would allow a half-month’s additional rental assistance for families currently registered 

One resident purchased a trailer; two families moved into permanent rental housing and received one month’s rent and security deposit.

Most of the families are temporarily renting rooms based on income. The cost of that temporary rental is equivalent to the lot fee and mortgage of the trailer they once had.

“We have met the immediate needs, they are renting rooms in private homes. It is not a long-term solution at all,” said Harris. “We need more affordable housing to find places they can rent based on their income.”  

Woodbridge District Supervisor Frank Principi asked that non-profits get together to work towards an affordable housing solution in light of what happened at Holly Acres. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here