NGO Funding Request


The recipient entity's full legal name:  New Orleans Council on Aging

The recipient entity's physical address:
           2475 Canal St., Suite 400
New Orleans, LA 70119


The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           P.O. Box 19067
New Orleans, LA 70179-0067


Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          Mrs. Adele N. Bornkessel
Dr. Sam Magbee
Mrs. Allie Mae Williams
Dr. Billy Murphy
Mrs. Mildred Fossier


The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  4096

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $500,000

What type of request is this?  General Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Ms. Bonnie Blankey Alston
2017 Adams Street
New Orleans, LA 70118

Mr. Eugene J. Green
4929 St. Roch Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70122

N. Sundiata Haley
1320 Rapides Drive
New Orleans, LA 70122

Mrs. Kristig. Hubbard
6260 Providence Place
New Orleans, LA 70126

Mrs. Coretta LaGarde
2241 Athis Street
New Orleans, LA 70122

Ms. Tamara J ledford
3020 Burdette Street
New Orleans, LA 70118

Dr. Arlisa P. Mason
1900 Gravier Street
New Orleans, LA 70115

Mrs. Alisha G. Reed
145 Pinehurst Drive
New Orleans, LA 70131

Rev. Torin T. Sanders, Ph.D.
3634 Marigny Street
New Orleans, LA 70122

Ms. Joy Willig
1107 South Peters Street #226
New Orleans, LA 70130

Howard L. Rodgers, III
Executive Director
4801 Press Dr.
New Orleans, LA 70126


Provide a summary of the project or program:
           Pre-COVID-19, the New Orleans Council on Aging ran 3 senior centers and subcontracted 11 senior centers, all of which served over 800 older adults.
We are requesting $500,000.00 to assist us as we reopen these centers and have to cover the costs incurred by new cleaning and distancing procedures required to protect these vulnerable individuals. The funding will also cover activities that encourage participants to safely engage in physical exercise and socially interact with others, and other educational and recreational activities.
Due to COVID-19, Seniors are becoming more isolated as they stay home and limit interactions with both friends and family to protect themselves. The elderly being more and more socially isolated, is causing a significant portion of our clients to be diagnosed with clinical depression. The best solution to this is to safely open our Senior Centers, where they can safely socialize, and participate in educational and recreational activities.


What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,000
          Professional Services. . . $20,000
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $380,000
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $0

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          Not Applicable

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          The New Orleans Council on Aging (NOCOA) exists to protect the rights, promote the well-being, and enhance the self-esteem of New Orleans elderly by generating opportunities for self-reliance and independence.

The New Orleans Council on Aging is a private, non-profit corporation which serves as the Area Agency on Aging for Orleans Parish. The agency is responsible for insuring that a comprehensive and coordinated assortment of social, recreational, educational, and nutritional services are provided to persons aged 60 and over in the City of New Orleans.

With the COVID-19 crisis, social isolation and lack of exercise has increased in seniors as they stay at home and have fewer interactions with others as required to protect themselves from the virus. Continued social isolation can lead to mental health problems in the elderly. The best solution to this is increasing their social interaction in a safe location where social distancing and health safety procedures are in place.

We plan on opening our senior centers when cleared by the Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs, and by the City of New Orleans. Currently we have a work group developing procedures on cleaning directions and routines that will need to be in place to open these centers safely.
We are requesting $500,000.00 to cover the expenses related to opening and maintaining the 14 senior centers in New Orleans, which we manage or subcontract. We know that to safely have older adults gather, we will need to increase cleaning supplies, have staff work longer, and develop activities with increased social distancing. All of these will require additional to accommodate our clients.


What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          The goals of this request are as follows:
1) Set up and supply the 14 senior centers with a procedure to screen seniors every day when they arrive at the centers. Materials needed include thermometers, and other medically necessarily supplies for this task.
2) Create cleaning procedures that ensures constant cleaning of the centers as older adults move from task to task, to ensure that the participants will not contract or spread diseases. A clean as you go environment will developed with the centers’ employees. The funding will be used to ensure that the centers have all the cleaning supplies they need to accomplish this.
3) Install clear barriers at receiving areas, and clearly mark social distancing places for participants to sit or stand. Training will be provided to the staff to mark off the space that should be given to each participant.
4) Create social and physical activities that incorporate social distancing and provide safe, fun, and engaging activities for our clients.
5) Provide a safe and caring space for seniors to engage in educational, recreational, and social activities.


What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           one year

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 N/A
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 N/A

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 0%

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  N/A

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               N/A

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               N/A

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                N/A

          What is the nature of the relationship?  N/A

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 Louisiana Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs
525 Florida St # 4, Baton Rouge, LA 70801


(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               Before the outbreak of COVID-19, the New Orleans Council on Aging served over 20,000 seniors in Orleans Parish through 10 different programs that the contract with the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs would cover. With this Older American’s Act funding managed by the Office of Elderly Affairs, we were able to serve clients by providing following services:

• Aging and Disability Resource Center and Senior Prescription Drug Assistance
Assists with Medicare and Medicaid registration, and assists in providing low cost
prescription drugs for those who can’t afford their prescriptions

• Homemakers
Provides home cleaning services to elderly who may not be able to physically do these
Activities.

• Information and Assistance, Assessment and Outreach
Referrals to various senior services, client advocacy, and when necessary, home visits to clients
homes by staff .

• Legal
Subcontracting to a nonprofit legal service corporation, this service provides direct client legal services,
legal education, and law reform activities as it relates to older adults.

• National Family Caregiver Support Program
This Program provides a support group for caregivers, in-home respite services, adult
undergarments and liquid nutritional supplements.

• Nutrition
This program encompasses our “Meals on Wheels” program and our Congregate Meals
Program.

• The Power to Care Utility Assistance Program
Qualified seniors and those with disabilities are assisted with utility bill payment assistance.

• Retired and Senior Volunteer Program
Provides a link between those 55 and older who wish to volunteer in the community with
agencies in New Orleans that are able to use such volunteers.

• Senior Companion Program
Provides in-home assistance to the elderly and disabled using trained volunteer companions
who assist with personal care, light home management, advocacy, respite, and other
services.

• Senior Centers
Manages directly 3 senior centers and 11 subcontracted senior centers. Each center
provides clients with social, recreational, educational, and nutritional activities.

Since the crisis with COVID-19, we have reduced services for the protection of our clients to the Information and Assistance Program, Prescription Medicine Cost Reduction program, Telephone Reassurance services and the Nutrition Program. Our Senior Centers Program has closed their centers for the clients safety, while their staff is providing telephone reassurance services to their clients. A few of the centers offer “Grab and Go” meal assistance to their clients, and others offer home delivered meals to their clients. The Senior Companion Program has had its volunteers offer telephone reassurance services, since due to the pandemic they are not able to physically visit the clients.



Contact Information
name:  Martin Huber 
                                       address:  1731 Hollygrove St.
New Orleans, LA 70118

                                       phone:  (504) 875-5728
                                       fax: 
                                       e-mail:  mhuber@nocoa.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Director of Community Services