City Invites Human Services Nonprofits Applications for ARPA Funds to Implement Community Health Improvement Plan Recommendations

On April 18 2022, the Portsmouth City Council authorized funds to create the Community Health Needs Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan. Through the development of the Plan it became clear that local human services nonprofits suffered significant revenue losses due to negative impacts of COVID-19, while simultaneously having to expand the scope of their services to cover gaps that had not existed prior to the pandemic. At their meeting on August 21, 2023 the Portsmouth City Council approved the use of $250,000 in ARPA funds for implementation of recommendations included in the Plan. 

Now the City invites local human service nonprofits who are filling the gaps in needs and services to numerous vulnerable populations throughout the City to apply for these ARPA funds. This one-time assistance is separate from other City fund allocations. Agencies can apply for both this opportunity and their typical City funding. The City Council will hold a public hearing on November 18, 2024 to consider adding an additional $100,000 for this effort.

In announcing the program, City Manager Karen Conard commented, “ARPA funds provide substantial flexibility for each municipality to meet its local needs, including direct support for nonprofits who have suffered from the negative economic impacts of COVID-19. Therefore, the way to distribute these funds in a meaningful manner to get into the hands of the nonprofits filling the gaps in services for our vulnerable populations identified in our Community Health Needs Assessment, is to provide these nonprofits with funds directly as beneficiaries. They suffered economic harm due to COVID-19 and were unable to fully meet the needs of the vulnerable populations they serve. They know their clients and needs best, and they are already doing the work to fill these gaps and provide significantly changed services since COVID.”

Award amounts are dependent on the number of applications received from nonprofits that have suffered COVID losses and serve the City’s vulnerable populations in priority community health improvement areas. Vulnerable populations are defined as: veterans; people with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities; elderly or homebound seniors; children and youth; LGBTQ+ community; BIPOC minorities; and people with mental health needs. Community health improvement areas include: substance misuse; transportation; domestic violence; homelessness; food insecurity; mental health and social isolation; and quality of life and healthy environments. 

To apply for these ARPA funds, visit: https://portsnh.co/health.

The deadline for submitting an application to receive this one-time assistance is Wednesday, November 27, 2024 at 4:30 pm.