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Hidalgo County Community Service Agency reports more than $750,000 in flood relief; warns federal cuts to CSBG would hamper aid
Summary
Hidalgo County’s Community Service Agency told commissioners it has distributed more than $750,000 in flood relief since the March 27 storm, using county and state CSBG funds to provide gift cards and appliances to roughly 500 families.
Hidalgo County Community Service Agency (CSA) staff told the commissioners they have distributed more than $750,000 in disaster relief since the March 27 severe-weather and flooding event and appealed for continued federal funding.
CSA director summarized a two-phase response. The agency first deployed about $257,000 in Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds as $500 gift-card awards to affected families across the county. A subsequent state CSBG allocation of roughly $500,000 allowed CSA to provide additional flexible assistance, including refrigerators, stoves and water heaters for eligible households, procurement staff said. The director said the state’s flexibility allowed the county to supply physical appliances for the first time in recent program history and to coordinate purchases with the county purchasing office.
Director Jaime Lonoria (presenting as CSA lead) said the agency used initial gift-card distribution information and referrals from precinct offices to target assistance and that the funds served households across municipalities from Sullivan City to Mercedes. He said the combined CSBG allocations had supported “more or less 500 families across Hidalgo County.”
Lonoria also warned that the president’s proposed federal “skinny” budget would eliminate CSBG, a key flexible funding source he said the agency used to respond to COVID food distribution and to place vulnerable residents in shelters after storms. “The effect would be devastating to the people, the vulnerable families, the elderly families,” he said in describing the potential impact on those who rely on Social Security income and other limited means.
Commissioners heard examples of how relief funds helped residents: gift-card recipients bought groceries, graduation clothing, bedding, an air fryer for a mother helping in the kitchen and other essential items. CSA staff noted that many recipients are elderly or children — roughly 75% of those served by CSA’s programs fall into those age groups.
CSA leaders asked the court to note the county’s use of flexible CSBG funds and to continue collaborating with precincts and partner organizations as they complete appliance distributions and other casework. The court did not amend county budgets during the report but recorded the update and the director’s appeal for federal funding preservation.
