For the past two years, CAGI has been selected to administer Community Economic Relief Fund (CERF) dollars through its Boone and Hendricks County offices. In response to the significant negative impact of the economic downturn on many residents of the Central Indiana area, several private foundations and corporate contributors came together to create a fund to provide additional emergency help for those who did not qualify for existing assistance programs. Recognizing that the increase in unemployment from layoffs and plant closings was causing a material increase in the number of households which required assistance, this group assembled a multi-million-dollar pot to give these households some help.

Each administering agency was given the opportunity to design the uses for which the assistance would be provided (utilities, food, rent/mortgage, prescription medications, etc.) and the dollar limitation on the benefits provided to each client.

CAGI distributed more than $100,000 in CERF assistance in these two counties during 2010.

NOTICE:  The United Way of Central Indiana and other funding sources for CERF have not allocated funds for distribution this year.  Consequently, CAGI is not taking applications for CERF benefits.  If funding becomes available, the agency will initiate processing of CERF applications.