The Emergency Food & Shelter Program

Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSP)

The Emergency Food and Shelter Program was established on March 24, 1983, with the signing of the "Jobs Stimulus Bill", Public Law 98-8.  That legislation created a National Board, chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency "FEMA" that consisted of representatives of the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, The Jewish Federations of North America, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, the Salvation Army and United Way Worldwide.

The Emergency Food & Shelter Program is a Federal program administered by the U.S Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS/FEMA). It has been entrusted through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (PL 100-77) “to supplement and expand ongoing efforts to provide shelter, food and supportive services” by local social service organizations for people across our Nation who are hungry, homeless, and in economic crisis. The EFSP National Board designated United Way of Cumberland County to serve as the administrator to the Local EFSP Board. Representatives from the following organizations are mandated to comprise the Local EFSP Board: American Red Cross; Catholic Charities USA; The Jewish Federations of North America; National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA; The Salvation Army; United Way of Cumberland County; Homeless Agency Representative; Native American Agency Representative; Government Agency Representative; and Aging Council Agency Representative.

This grant is for local recipient organizations to use EFSP funds for mass shelter, mass feeding, food distribution through food pantries, food banks, and food vouchers, pass-due utility payments to prevent service disconnections, past due rent/mortgage assistance to prevent evictions and to assist people that are leaving shelters with establishing stable living conditions.  Residents in need of assistance must contact the agency directly to check for the availability of funds.

Organizations interested in applying for EFSP Phase 42 funding MUST ATTEND the Phase 42 EFSP Request for Funding Proposal Workshop that will be held in February 27. Registration for this workshop will open on February 3.