Monroe County’s Human Services Advisory Board has issued its Fiscal Year 2017 recommendations on how to distribute $2 million that is earmarked in the proposed County budget for nonprofits that provide health and human services for citizens of the Keys.

HSAB funding was budgeted for $1.92 million, same as FY 2016. But Commissioner Sylvia Murphy requested that the amount be increased to $2 million, a 3.75 percent increase. Murphy, the BOCC liaison to the HSAB, said she knows the importance of the work done by the nonprofit organizations, which also can leverage County money for additional grants and funding.

Twenty-nine organizations throughout the Keys applied. The five-person board of Bob Johnson, David Manz, Steven Torrence, Michael Ingram and Sandra Higgs recommended that 26 receive funding, ranging from $15,000 for Voices for Florida Keys Children to $190,000 each for Hospice of the Florida Keys and Monroe Association for ReMARCable Citizens (MARC).

The recommendations and the applications are available on the Monroe County’s website at this link: http://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/index.aspx?nid=318. These organizations assist children, seniors, mentally challenged, physically challenged, veterans, homeless, pregnant women and other vulnerable citizens.

The board bases its recommendations on an evaluation of the County’s needs, agency capability, past performance and established guidelines.

The applications include a copy of the board composition, budget figures, how the County money will be used, revenue and revenue sources, a copy of their audit if expenses are $150,000 or greater and a copy of their IRS 990 form (an informational tax form that most tax-exempt organizations must file annually), Monroe County Grants Administrator Laura deLoach-Hartle said.

Eligible organizations must provide medical services, core social services and quality of life improvement services. Medical Services include mental health and dental care for the economically disadvantaged. Core social services include essential services such as food, clothing or housing; emergency disaster relief; family violence issues; and adult and child daycare. Quality of life improvement services include educational, preventative, training, recreational and cultural services.

The recommendations go before the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners for final approval. The BOCC also must adopt the final budget before exact awards are finalized.

The awarded funds are not given to the organizations in lump sums. The money is distributed as reimbursements for provided services, which are outlined in each organization’s contract with the County.