In May, DeKalb County received approximately $125 million in CARES Act Grant Funds for DeKalb’s Emergency response to COVID- 19. Money has gone to cities, the pubic health department, public safety, county essential services, PPE, food, mental health services, business loans, and a host of countywide needs.

The expenditures are reviewed in the Board of Commissions Finance, Audit and Budget Committee (FAB). In addition, each Commission District received $1 million for the purpose of maintaining security by addressing district related Covid-19 needs.  District 6 represents half of the County but still has the same allotment of money as the other Districts.

The District 6 appropriations are as follows:

  • DeKalb Department of Family and Children’s Services- for assistance with indigent burials and headstones due to increase in burials related to Covid-19 which has depleted the Burial Fund.
  • The Elaine Clark Center- for scholarships, staffing, nursing care, and PPE to help meet the increased needs of special needs children and youth served in person, at the Center, due to inability to participate in virtual learning in their homes.
  • Gregory Levett Sr. Family Foundation- for PPE funding to funeral homes handling the increases in Covid-19 death services.
  • I CARE- to assist with the increasing medical transportation and grocery delivery services to senior citizens who have been affected by the limitations caused by Covid-19 pandemic and PPE for volunteer drivers.
  • Malachi Storehouse- for food supplies, heating lamps and propane, gloves and warmers, PPE and related supplies for indigent, until the end of the year and toward reimbursement for the same expenses since March/April.
  • St Vincent de Paul – for truck replacement for DeKalb County’s largest food pantry.
  • Boys and Girls Clubs-DeKalb – toward the equipment and technology needs and support to provide distance learning services for families impacted by Covid-19 related issues.
  • DeKalb County Board of Health – for the purpose of targeted messaging of Covid- 19 related public education to LatinX/Asian Communities in District 6.
  • Toco Hills Community Alliance- for assistance replacing a commercial freezer used to store perishables that are donated through their food pantry.
  • DeKalb Community Service Board– for assistance maintaining the bed space and services for opioid treatment and services due other programs not accepting patients, and the overflow and increased treatment needs due to Covid-19 related issues
  • Physicians Care Clinic- for assistance in keeping DeKalb County’s high-risk clients, most susceptible for Covid-19 complications healthy by replacing funding from depleted budget to for equipment to provide telemedicine for patients that have to many health risks to go out, additional Flu and Pneumonia vaccinations, obesity and diabetes health and prevention education, and additional glucose monitoring equipment needed for in-home patients.
  • International Rescue Committee– for food, eviction intervention assistance, resources and PPE for increased need and new refugee families to combat Covid-19 related issues and protect their vulnerable community.
  • Our House– for assistance with funding needs to provide the homeless children and youth living with their parent at the shelter distance learning capability and activities necessary due to Covid-19.
  • Lifeline Animal Project/DeKalb County Animal Shelter- for support to a Covid-19 initiative that provides medical services and resources to care for pets so that DeKalb County constituents are able to meet their own critical basic needs of food and shelter without having to abandon this member of their family.
  • DeKalb County Public Library system who will coordinate with DeKalb County School system to provide relief and support to District 6 students and digital content access for DeKalb County Library patrons to increase remote offerings  while buildings are closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.