Townships in Rock Island County are trying to find people who need help with emergency expenses. This morning at the Moline Township Hall, officials announced the Department of Defense awarded over $20,000 to the townships. It's only for rent and mortgage assistance.
Don Johnston, Moline Township Supervisor, says townships can award up to $450 per person.
"If he has a problem like a water heater goes out maybe, or a car transmission or something of that nature where he has that extra expense of $200, $300, or $400 - something of that nature - then as long as we get it documented we can pay him up to $450 to replace that money that he lost on that particular item throughout the month."
The money can be used in any of the eighteen townships in Rock Island County. Johnston says it's a wonderful program, and recipients must document their expenses and show where they have lost the money.
“I think it’s one of the programs that how it’s set up, amazingly, it’s never been abused. We’re audited by the government once a year for this and it’s always that we’ve never had a problem.”
The Emergency Food and Shelter funding is from the U.S. Department of Defense through the United Way.