Residents have been without water since July 2019

The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) was awarded a $63,000 grant from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services to provide a new water well for citizens in Schlater, Mississippi in rural Leflore County.

The well was lost due to the historic flooding last year, and residents have been without water since July 2019. Due to the lack of running water, the families are facing indescribable challenges to sanitation, safe housing, and health and safety.

“It’s hard to imagine communities being without basic necessities, especially during the pandemic we’re facing,” said MDHS Executive Director Robert G. “Bob” Anderson. “Hygiene is critical for the health and welfare of everyone right now.”

Families refused to relocate due to the lack of resources and their desire to remain on family land. Local community action agency, Central Mississippi, Inc. (CMI), and the local fire department provided thousands of gallons of water and bottled water to residents to offer some relief, however, families had to heat this water to bathe and wash dishes, and must pour water into toilets to flush them.

MDHS was contacted by CMI to inquire about possible funding.  The MDHS Division of Community Services applied for Community Services Block Grant Disaster Supplemental funds being offered through DHHS.  Funding was approved, however, MDHS had to apply for a special one-time waiver to use the funds for this particular purpose.  MDHS received approval of the waiver this week and will proceed with the project.

MDHS and CMI will offer case management services to the families to address other issues they face such as employment, education, and housing, and to provide referrals to other local and state resources such as SNAP, TANF, Head Start, Aging services, Transportation, etc.

“It brings tremendous pride when you’re able to help entire communities recover from times of hardship,” Anderson said. “This is a prime example of providing tangible assistance today to create a lasting hope for tomorrow.”

For more information on the Mississippi Department of Human Services and the services they provide, go to https://www.mdhs.ms.gov/.

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“Offering Mississippian young and old tangible help today to create a lasting hope for tomorrow.”

(Jackson, Miss.) – The holiday season will be a little bit brighter for thousands of aging Mississippians thanks to a program offered by the Mississippi Department of Human Services.

The Home Delivered Meals program (HDM), made possible by the Older Americans Act of 1965, provides eligible homebound, functionally impaired persons, particularly those in greatest economic and social need, five nutritious meals per week. Through the program, 125,000 meals are delivered each month to 7,073 homes across the state.

The meals are delivered by drivers with Trio Food Services, who develop relationships with the beneficiaries and are therefore an invaluable asset, according to Mark Williamson, Director of the MDHS Division of Aging and Adult Services. “The Drivers get to know the recipients, and in turn the recipients get to know and trust them,” he said. “This enables drivers to identify if something is wrong with the recipients and report that, which is a very valuable resource for us.”

MDHS Executive Director Christopher Freeze said providing services such as Home Delivered Meals to our aging population is not only valuable, but the right thing to do.

“Many of the individuals on this program aren’t able to take care of themselves like they used to, and many may not otherwise know where their next meal would come from,” Freeze said. “Our aging population spent their lives taking care of us. Now it’s time for us to take care of them.”

For more information and to apply for the Home Delivered Meals program, visit https://www.mdhs.ms.gov/adults-seniors/services-for-seniors/.

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