The Santa Barbara Foundation announced a total of $775,000 in grants going to 16 organizations to provide food, shelter and medical services to the needy in the community. In response to the recession and increased need in the community, the foundation had created its Community Economic Recovery Fund.

Awards included impact grants of $50,000 and emergency services grants of $10,000. A third category, innovation grants of $10,000, was established in response to several creative proposals the foundation received. Consideration was given to an organization’s ability to allocate resources quickly and effectively to those newly affected by the economic crisis.

The dollars will be used to purchase food and to pay for additional staff to help with distribution; pay for additional services from physicians and physicians’ assistants; and cover emergency and transitional housing, case management, rental and homelessness prevention assistance, day services and food, medical and counseling services.

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