Engaging Volunteers

About the Program

Category: Volunteers (Best in Category)

Year: 2022

Throughout 2020 and 2021, Palm Beach County Community Services Department (CSD) faced the tremendous challenge of distributing the federal Treasury Department CARES Act and Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) funds. These funds are to assist residents in rental and utility payments. The funding level was 10-15 times the typical annual amount of funding. CSD needed to act quickly in order to meet the needs of the community. There was an established relationship between the United Way and CSD to deliver free tax assistance using highly qualified volunteers. Both parties agreed to use this same network of volunteers to efficiently and equitably distribute these funds. This effort helped mitigate the devastating effects that COVID-19 and the unprecedented rise in rental prices has had on Palm Beach County residents' ability to put a roof over their heads, keep food on the table, and the lights and water on in their homes. Palm Beach County government has been able to distribute over $85 million in federal assistance to residents by having more than a dozen volunteers process hundreds of applications for assistance. This network of highly qualified volunteers working alongside the social service experts within CSD led to an efficient and effective service delivery network..