The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) has provided an additional $100 million to the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program.  This funding is above and beyond the funds awarded earlier this year to address the great increases in unemployment and community need.

Brown County has been awarded $69,423 of these funds to supplement emergency food and shelter programs. The local Emergency Food and Shelter Board, under the stewardship of the Brown County United Way, is looking for agencies providing services that are accessible to the areas where the newly unemployed reside.

To be eligible for funding, an agency must:

• have 501c(3) status
• provide one or more of the following to homeless and/or low-income people:
  •  Mass shelter (e.g. night shelter, transitional housing)
  • Mass feeding (e.g. soup kitchen, home delivered meals)
    
  • Other food (e.g. food pantries, grocery vouchers)
  • Rent, mortgage or utility assistance
• not charge fees from clients for EFSP-funded services
• practice non-discrimination and not require religious participation
• be governed by a volunteer Board of Directors

The local Emergency Food and Shelter Board is looking specifically for agencies providing services that are accessible to the areas where the newly unemployed reside. Brown County agencies who have never applied for EFSP funds are encouraged to do so.

Download the Grant Application Form (.doc file) here.

The EFSP Program

The Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) was created in 1983 to supplement and expand the work of the local social service agencies, both nonprofit and governmental, in an effort to help people with economic (not disaster-related) emergencies. The EFSP funding is open to all organizations helping hungry and homeless people.

EFSP is governed by a National Board that selects jurisdictions for funding. Local Boards are convened in those qualifying jurisdictions to determine the highest need and best use of funds, and to select Local Recipient Organizations (LROs) that will provide emergency food and shelter services. Each year, needs are to be assessed in an effort to adapt to particular community needs.

The program's objectives are:

• to allocate funds to the neediest areas
• to ensure fast response
• to foster public/private sector cooperation
• to ensure local decision making
• to maintain minimal, but accountable, reporting.

Program funds are used to provide the following, as determined by the Local Board in funded jurisdictions:

• food, in the form of served meals or groceries
• lodging in a mass shelter or hotel
• one month's rent or mortgage payment
• one month's utility bill
• minimal repairs to allow a mass feeding or sheltering facility to function during the program year
• equipment necessary to feed or shelter people, up to a $300 limit per item

To contact EFSP:

Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program
701 North Fairfax Street, Suite 310
Alexandria, Virginia 22314-2064
Phone: (703) 706-9660
Fax: (703) 706-9677

Or visit the EFSP website at
www.efsp.unitedway.org