City of San Angelo Has Grant Funds for Quarantine Hotel Rooms

SAN ANGELO, TX – In an effort to help San Angeloans who need to quarantine but do not require hospitalization, the city is partnering with three local hotels to offer citizens a place to isolate. This is specifically meant to aid in overflow capacity from the hospitals.

According to the press release, the city “applied to the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) for a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) grant to aid in providing non-congregate sheltering for citizens in need.”

The program will also be offered to individuals who must quarantine while they are awaiting test results.

Previously the city received a $636,480 grant from the TDEM. The city applied for an extension (required every 30 days) of the RPA on June 26 and is waiting for the authorization to continue the program.  

The city will be reimbursed for these expenditures through either the TDEM program previously mentioned or through the $1.1 million that the City budgeted today, July 7, from the Federal CARES Act. This act was granted by the US Treasury for cities under 500,000 people. This funding is also administered through the State by TDEM.

While the non-congregate shelter grant can only be used for that purpose, the CARES grant can aid with the City’s public health, public safety, and medical expenses. 

The City was awarded almost $5.5 million through this grant, but the State is allowing an initial drawdown of 20% of the grant which for San Angelo is $1.1 million. The grant has restrictions for its use and can be used for the following eligible expenses:

1. Medical expenses
2. Public health expenses
3. Payroll expenses for public safety, public health, health care, human services and similar employees whose services are substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency
4. Expenses of actions to facilitate compliance with COVID-19-related public health measures
5. Expenses associated with the provision of economic support in connection with the COVID-19 public health emergency, and 
6. Any other COVID-19-related expenses reasonably necessary to the function of government that satisfy the Fund’s eligibility criteria.

Seventy-five percent of the funds must be used for items 1-4.