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Editorial: Pinellas County wise to restore emergency money for poor

 
Published March 27, 2015

Now that Pinellas County can afford to loosen its purse strings, it makes sense to help residents who face financial disaster. County commissioners voted this week to approve a six-month experiment to create an emergency fund to help low-income adults. The program could be a lifeline for people in need.

Scheduled to launch in April, the Adult Emergency Financial Assistance Program will provide one-time payments for adults without children who face a financial emergency such as eviction or the interruption of a utility service. Commissioners set aside $2 million to partner with 2-1-1 Tampa Bay Cares Inc. to administer the program, which will mirror a similar effort that was discontinued because of budget cuts. Applicants must be Pinellas County residents, prove financial hardship and have an income level that is below 200 percent of the federal poverty line, which is $11,770 for a single adult or $15,930 for a two-person household. Payments, ranging from $300 to more than $1,000, will be made directly to vendors.

Several programs exist to help families with children through periods of crisis. Childless adults deserve the same consideration. The county's smart decision to revive this program is the kind of wise investment that prevents impending crises and adds value to the entire community by providing stability in times of desperate need.