HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-22-21 Public Comment - T. Goebel - ARPAFrom:Tia Goebel
To:Agenda
Subject:Budget Comment: Support Local Organizations & Basic Human Needs
Date:Tuesday, June 22, 2021 11:15:31 AM
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To those it may concern -
My name is Tia Goebel and I live at 1140 N Pinecrest Dr in Bozeman MT, 59715. I'm writing
you to advocate that the $6 million dollars Bozeman is receiving from Biden's Rescue Plan goto support urgent, basic needs for individuals in our community.
I work as the Community Engagement Coordinator with Greater Gallatin United Way.
Together with GGUW, the One Valley Community Foundation, and the SWMT COAD
(Community Organizations Active in Disaster), I have helped oversee the allocation of over$750,000 in COVID-19 Response grants to nonprofits across 4 counties: Gallatin, Madison,
Meagher and Park since March 2020. All of these dollars were privately raised.
In our most recent grant making cycle, which just wrapped up two weeks ago, weallocated over $128,000 to about 22 organizations.
This was an extremely difficult and heart wrenching process because the CURRENT andCLEARLY expressed need from our nonprofit community is well over $750,000 (that weknow of).
In the past 6 weeks, we have reviewed over 49 applications from organizations drastically and
negatively impacted by COVID-19. These organizations have spoken up on the behalf of theirorganization's wellbeing and longevity, as well as the wellbeing of their clients. We put the
$128k of privately raised dollars to the best use we could, but as you can see, the needs faroutmatch the dollar amount at our disposal. These organizations and the thousands of
individuals they serve need our help meeting their basic needs. Please invest in theseorganizations that work on-the-ground with the most vulnerable in our community.
Based on the 6 million at your disposal, you could meet ALL of these needs and still havemillions leftover.
Needs include -Auto and home repairs
Rent and utility assistance Access to mental health care & crisis response
Suicide interventionChild care scholarships and support
Summer youth programs Grocery and gas cards
Diapers and baby foodFirewood
PPE
Staff burnout prevention, stress reduction, and mental/behavioral health supports Access to health care
Technology reimbursements and upgrades
Please prioritize these needs. By supporting organizations on the ground, we can focusrecovery efforts on supporting individuals and families today so they are strongertomorrow. These are our community's most urgent needs. We already have all theinformation from the grant applications and could assist in making those decisions or in
other ways help direct resources to help address the clear and urgent requests.
Thank you for your consideration,Tia Goebel
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Tia Goebel
pronouns: she, her, hers
Cell: (605) 440-1452