The Carbon County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing Thursday regarding the Emergency Solutions Grant being pursued by members of the Carbon County Action Committee for Human Services and Family Promise.

"The county is going out of its way to pursue the grant by basically fronting the funds until we are reimbursed by the state," said Wayne Nothstein, chairman of the commissioners. "Non-profit organizations cannot apply directly for the grant. They have to go through a governmental entity."The grant is for $40,000 and will enable CCAC to expand its emergency housing services through Rapid Rehousing Services and Homelessness Prevention Services, and Family Promise to stay afloat or maybe expand.Natalie Bojko, the executive director of Family Promise, said the agency provides services to homeless families 365 days a year for under $100,000. The organization runs a day center for adults at its site in Lehighton, and the children are picked up for school from the center.At the center, people can get help writing a resume, finding a job, and learning life skills such as budgeting and nutrition. The adults also can use the center as a permanent address to apply for governmental assistance and work."It's a hub for every aspect of their life," Bojko said.In the evening, the families go to various churches in the area to have dinner and spend the night.Bojko said the average age of the children is under five years old, but some have been as young as newborns."We've gotten children right out of the hospital," she said. "Imagine giving birth and having nowhere to go."To date, Family Promise has helped 22 families comprised of 65 people. If they are interested, Family Promise follows up with them once they have graduated into permanent housing."I get lots of pictures," she said. Family Promise is "kind of a place they can always come back to visit."The Rapid Rehousing Services that Carbon County Action Committee is seeking funding for could help families at Family Promise get into homes, said Kim Miller, the executive director of CCAC. The program could also help:• Homeless families fleeing domestic violence situations.• Homeless people and veterans residing at a shelter who will soon be needing to transition into housing.• Homeless families and individuals referred to them by Carbon County Housing Authority.The services provided through Rapid Rehousing and Homelessness Prevention services are intended "to be considered only as a last resort after all other resources, services and support have been considered," she said. They are only temporary funding, not long term.This is the second time CCAC has sought funding through the Emergency Solutions Grant. The Carbon County Board of Commissioners filed the first application about this time last year, Nothstein said.Because of delays in passage of a state budget in 2015, the county did not receive the funds until March of this year."That goes to show you how it hurts non-profits and other people trying to provide assistance," Nothstein said about the slow passage of the state budget. "It hurts everyone. It's not good for government, and (county government) is stuck in the middle."The formal grant application will be submitted next week for vote at the commissioners' meeting at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday.