Federation Helps Houston Jewish Organizations Obtain $3 million in Security Grants
December 24, 2024 – With support of the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston’s Community Security Program, greater Houston Jewish organizations received $3 million in national Nonprofit Security Grants in 2024.
In 2024, 20 greater Houston Jewish facilities obtained grants from the national Nonprofit Security Grant program, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The grants provide funds for target hardening measures such as cameras, fencing, building reinforcements, and the hiring of certain security personnel. Each organization that applied received the maximum award of $150,000 and some organizations with multiple facilities received grants for each facility.
“Since 2021, the Federation has helped our community obtain more than $6.3 million in national Nonprofit Security grants. This is a unique value add that is only able to be accessed through our comprehensive approach to security,” said Federation President & CEO Renée Wizig-Barrios.
Federation Community Security Director, Al Tribble, supports the process by providing Threat Vulnerability Risk Assessments (TVRA) free of charge to organizations. The assessments coupled with each organization’s application and justification for funds enables federal dollars, which are administered by the Texas Governor’s Office, to be directed to each institution that applies. The Federation also shares national and local resources, and helps organizations create their investment justification support as part of their grant application.
“Providing security assessments for our Jewish organizations is critical to improving their facilities security posture,” Tribble said. “These can range in cost from $6,500 – $10,000 from private companies and the Federation and SCN through their security partnership are able to offer this at no cost to our community.”
Organizations that received funding include the ERJCC, the Merfish Teen Center, and the Ellen Boniuk School; Congregation Beth Yeshurun; Chabad of Cypress & NW Houston; Mesivta of Houston; Congregation K’nesseth Israel; Chabad Outreach; Temple Sinai, United Orthodox Synagogues of Houston, Robert M Beren Academy Cliffwood and Greenwillow campuses; Congregation Beth Israel; Congregation Beth Rambam; Congregation Emanu El; Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism; Camp Young Judaea – Texas; Chabad Lubavitch Fondren; and The Shul of Bellaire.
The ERJCC is one organization that received multiple grants for different facilities.
“The funds that the ERJCC received will be applied to security enhancements at the J’s three campuses; our main campus on South Braeswood, Merfish Teen Center and the JCC West Houston. Our community is very fortunate to have Al Tribble in his role as security director under the auspices of the Jewish Federation. These funds are critical and essential to continue to provide our community with safe and supportive environments,” said J CEO Joel Dinkin.
Congregation K’Nesseth Israel in Baytown was a first-time grant applicant.
“Congregation K’Nesseth Israel is grateful to have been approved for the Nonprofit Security Grant. We wish to thank the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston for their support. We appreciate Houston Jewish Community Security Director, Al Tribble, for conducting the initial assessment and providing guidance during the grant writing process. We are also indebted to members of a Houston congregation who mentored us through the application process. The grant will enable our small historic congregation to control access to the facility, create a more secure site, deter threats and protect our physical assets and congregants,” said Joan Linares, K’Nesseth Israel president.
The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) led the effort to create the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which was established by Congress in 2004. Since then, the Houston Federation has played a role in assisting local Jewish institutions with the application process.