Emergency food & shelter funding

The Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) is a program created by Congress in 1983 to help meet the needs of hungry and homeless people through the United States and its territories by allocating federal funds, awarded through the Department of Homeland Security, for the provision of food and shelter.  The amount of funding the EFSP administers to communities throughout the nation is dependent on multiple factors, including the local unemployment rate. The United Way of Walworth County administers the EFSP Local Board, #925000 for the Walworth County jurisdiction.

Chair: Federal Emergency Management Agency – U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Secretariat and Fiscal Agent: United Way Worldwide

Members: National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; Catholic Charities USA; The Jewish Federations of North America; The Salvation Army; American Red Cross

During its 36 years of operation, the program has disbursed over $4.5 billion to over 14,000 local providers in more than 2,500 counties and cities.

• Efficiency—fiscal administration, reporting and procedural guidance to Local Boards and Local Recipient Organizations (LROs)
• Accountability—good steward of taxpayers’ dollars through reasonable oversight and transparency
• Responsiveness—prioritize the allocation of supplemental funds to the neediest areas in the nation
• Partnership—promote and strengthen collaboration between non-profit organizations and public sector
• Facilitating—maximizing appropriate local decision-making through clear guidance and training

The local board is comprised of representatives from the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, American Red Cross, local food insecurity and homelessness representatives, and the United Way of Walworth County.  To serve on the Board, contact Board Chair Susan Hughes by email, susan.hughes@walworthcountyfoodpantry.org.

The EFSP Local Board’s responsibility is to:

• Consider all private voluntary and public organizations currently providing or capable of providing emergency food and shelter programs.
• Select and recommend which local organizations should receive funding and the amounts of the funding awards.
• Advertise the availability of funds.
• Establish priorities among community needs.
• Award funds to nonprofit and government emergency food and shelter agencies.
• Monitor program compliance to Rules and Regulations set forth by the National EFSP Board.

• Be private, not for profit agencies or units of government.
• Be eligible to receive Federal funds by having a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN),
• Have an accounting system.
• Practice non-discrimination.
• Have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs.
• Have an active volunteer board of directors.

The application window for the Phase 39/ARPA funds is closed. Please check back for Phase 40 funding opportunities.