Published in The New Haven Register on Thursday, March 29, 2012. By Register Staff

The Neighbor-to-Neighbor LifeLine program will distribute about $500,000 in grants to area organizations that serve residents affected by the economic downturn, the United Way of Greater New Haven announced today.

The program was formed by the United Way and the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven to help meet emergency housing and hunger needs in the region.

This year, the program got $1.3 million in requests from nonprofits, faith groups and municipalities. Fourteen volunteers on review committee chose which groups will receive the funds, according to a release by United Way of Greater New Haven.