Federal grants to help poorest Wichitans find jobs, health care

The Wichita City Council on Tuesday applied for federal grants to help provide health care and job skills programs to the poorest residents of the community.

The council approved an application for $943,594 from the Community Services Block Grant program. The federal government is expected to approve the application, said John Hall, Wichita director of housing and community services.

The bulk of the funding will go to programs to teach job and living skills to those in low-income families, to try to help them break out of the cycle of multi-generational poverty, Hall said.

The grant-funded programs include:

▪ Wichita Sedgwick County Community Action Partnership, $446,385. Assists impoverished families to achieve economic security through individual and family development programs.

▪ Project Access, $200,000. Coordinates access to donated health care, pharmaceuticals and durable medical equipment for uninsured low-income residents.

▪ Employment and training, $160,000. The city is putting out a request for proposals for training low-income residents for local job opportunities.

▪ Summer Activity Camp, $50,000. Provides summer camps for youth combining recreational activities and educational programs, such as training in how to get and keep a job and how to manage personal finances.

The Community Services Block Grant program is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The funding can only be used to address poverty issues for people living at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level, Hall said.

The current eligibility level for programs is $14,850 in annual income for a single person and $30,375 for a family of four, Hall said.

This story was originally published February 9, 2016 at 1:03 PM with the headline "Federal grants to help poorest Wichitans find jobs, health care."