Disaster Relief Available For Catholic Schools

Attention: School Principals, Catholic Charity Agency Directors, etc.

In the Federal Register of June 23, 2003 the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a revised ruling concerning “Private Nonprofit Facility (PNP) Eligibility that will now allow Catholic Schools and certain other Catholic facilities damaged in recent disasters to apply for federal assistance.

Catholic schools, homeless shelters, low-income housing units, medical clinics may be eligible for disaster relief for any disaster declared by the federal government on or after January 20, 2001. This assistance may be claimed for uninsured losses.

If a Catholic school or other Catholic facility applied for assistance earlier and was turned down, it should re-apply at this time!

Previous to the June 23 revised rule, a private nonprofit had to be open to the general public. This interpretation denied disaster relief assistance to certain Catholic institutions, such as Catholic schools. The revised ruling provides a new interpretation of federal law to include private nonprofits that provide essential services of a governmental nature, such as education and social services. The revised ruling will therefore allow Catholic schools to apply for disaster relief. Other Catholic facilities providing medical care, homeless shelter and low-income housing are also eligible.

To apply for assistance in Missouri contact:

Dante Gliniecki
Statewide Volunteer Coordinator
State Emergency Management Agency
P.O. Box 116
Jefferson City, Mo. 65102

Tel: 573-526-9132
Fax: 573-634-7966
Email: dgliniec@mail.state.mo.us