ONC CARES Act Assistance Application
This is a downloadable application form.
ONC CARES Act Instructions and FAQs
Please read the instructions carefully.
Applications are also available at the ONC Office, and will be mailed to every tribal member.
Eligibility
The Orutsararmiut Native Council Tribe CARES Act Assistance Program is designed to provide economic relief to enrolled Tribal Members of Orutsararmiut Native Council Tribe with additional resources to maintain adequate housing, transportation, food, water, medication, medical care, utilities, and basic life necessities to help alleviate the financial hardships endured from the loss of income and increased costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding for the Program is being distributed from the CARES Act funding received by the Tribe and this Program is designed to comply with the CARES Act requirements and guidance issued by the US Department of Treasury.
Who Can Apply:
Any Orutsararmiut Native Council enrolled adult Tribal Member who has attained the age of 18 years old may apply on behalf of their household.
Application Submission: Your eligibility will be based on the information submitted as of your application date – no new information will be accepted after your application is submitted.
By Mail: P.O. Box 927, Bethel, AK 99559 ATTN: Cares Grant
By Email: CARES@nativecouncil.org
By fax: 907-543-2639
In Person: 117 Alex Hately Drive (Drop in the porch)
What is ONC’s Coronavirus Emergency Financial Assistance Grant Program?
This is a one-time financial assistance grant program for enrolled Orutsararmiut Native Council TribaL Members who have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The majority of assistance will be in the form of vendor payments and not in cash disbursement.
What is the deadline to apply?
5pm Friday October 16, 2020.
Who can apply?
All ONC tribal member households, no matter where located, can apply.
Only one application per household will be accepted. Attempting to submit multiple applications for the same household may disqualify the household from future financial assistance.
Each household’s application is to be completed by a “main applicant,” who must be at least 18 years old by October 16, 2020.
Non-ONC tribal member parents or legal guardians can apply on behalf of tribal member dependents
under 18 years old.
What expenses can be covered by this grant?
Assistance will be provided for these added or increased expenses or economic losses related to COVID-19: Cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE), medical care, food, shelter, increased internet costs due to teleworking or long-distance education, health, subsistence, elder and disabled care, propane/gas/fuel, emergencies and disaster relief.
What identification information is required?
Social security numbers, dates of birth, and ONC enrollment numbers for all household members are required. The ONC enrollment number can be found on the tribal ID or on the verification of tribal enrollment certificate. Call 907-543-2608 if assistance is required.
How do I qualify for funding?
You must certify that you suffered an economic impact due to the coronavirus pandemic
You must provide details regarding expenses or economic losses beginning on March 20, 2020, for which you are requesting assistance.
You must provide a signature on the form, in the Applicant Certification section. Unsigned applications cannot be accepted.
You must attach a copy of the main applicant’s tribal, state or federal photo ID.
Assistance is available until the budget approved by the Tribal Council is expended.
Where do I submit my completed application?
Mail to: Orutsararmiut Native Council Attn: CARES, Box 927 Bethel, Alaska 99559
Email to: cares@nativecouncil.org
Fax to: (907) 543-2639
ONC is expecting a high volume of applications. We appreciate your patience! Applications will be processed in the order received. Please allow staff enough time to properly process all applications.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROGRAM
- Do I need to read the instructions before applying?
Yes! Ensuring your application is complete before submission will help speed up the review process
- Are individual applications required for each household member?
No, a main applicant should apply on behalf of the entire household. Please include all personal information and certify that the individuals reside in the same household.
- Do all of our household members need to be tribally enrolled at ONC?
No, but at least one member of the household has to be tribally enrolled with ONC.
Can tribal members who do not reside in Bethel apply?
Yes, this program is available to all ONC Tribal members regardless of residence.
- What if I live alone and do not have additional household members?
You can apply for assistance, just list yourself and leave the household member section blank or list n/a.
- Why do I have to provide tribal enrollment numbers and identification?
Confirming identity and tribal enrollment is a very important step to confirm eligibility and will help speed up internal processing.
- What does the period beginning March 20, 2020, mean?
If you experienced added or increased expenses or economic losses related to Covid-19, your request can include expenses going back to March 20 but not before. If you only experienced a loss since May 1, just include that information, etc.
- What if our financial needs are in the future, beyond the deadline of October 16, 2020?
The Covid-19 pandemic is expected to continue into the future. You can include reasonable anticipated needs through December 30, 2020, but not after. ONC does not recommend purchasing eligible items or committing eligible expenses related to C-19 until your funding request is approved and received.
- Do we need to provide copies of receipts as backup for our request?
Receipts are not required unless requested. Please include a realistic funding request based on your actual
expenses
- Am I eligible to apply for the grant program if I am already receiving services from ONC?
Yes, but our staff need to evaluate all funding requests very carefully to ensure we are not “double counting” assistance. Please work with a staff member on all requests.
- Is the program income based or can anyone apply?
All completed applications will be evaluated based on financial need and household size. All tribal members who feel they have experienced a genuine financial need as a result of Covid-19 are encouraged to apply. Staff will get in touch with individual applicants if additional information is needed.
- I am a foster parent of an ONC Tribally enrolled member, am I able to apply?
Yes but we encourage you to please call our office for assistance.
For further assistance regarding this program, please contact ONC.