Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program (EFSP)
Overview
The Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program (EFSP) 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 an economic crisis.
A National Board, chaired by FEMA, with representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities USA; The Jewish Federations of North America; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; The Salvation Army; and United Way Worldwide, governs the EFSP.
In funded jurisdictions, Local Boards, similar in composition to the National Board, advertise the availability of the funds; establish priorities among community needs; award funds to non-profit and government emergency food and shelter agencies; and help monitor program compliance.
Funds from EFSP are distributed to each county in the United States based on its current population size, unemployment rate, and poverty rate.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must:
- Be private voluntary non-profits or units of government
- Be eligible to receive federal funds
- Have an accounting system
- Have a Unique Entity ID (UEI) from SAM.gov
- Practice non-discrimination (agencies with a religious affiliation must not refuse service to a client based on religion, nor require religious observance to be eligible for program services)
- Have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or mass shelter programs
- If the organization is a voluntary organization, have a voluntary board that meets at least semi-annually
- If in Milwaukee County, transitional housing is not an eligible form of emergency shelter for this funding source.
Qualifying agencies are urged to apply. Eligible organizations may request a minimum of $1,000 per organization. Maximum awards are dependent on the overall community award.
EFSP funds must be used to supplement or expand existing resources. The local EFSP board for Milwaukee and Waukesha will be determining funding priorities once we receive final guidelines from the national board. Please continue to check our website for updates. EFSP funds are distributed on a reimbursement basis and require specific documentation for proof of purchase.
ACCOUNTABILITY AND STEWARDSHIP
A guiding principle of EFSP is accountability - good stewardship of taxpayers' dollars through reasonable oversight and transparency. Administered by the EFSP National Board which monitors program and financial performance, EFSP undergoes independent annual audits. EFSP's audits are consistently with an unmodified opinion (i.e., a "clean" audit) for more than 10 years. At the end of each spending period, local boards and funded organizations must submit to EFSP a final report of expenses and services provided, along with supporting documentation for those selected to do so. Final reports are reviewed to ensure all funds are accounted for and eligibility of expenditures.
EFSP is administered with exceptional efficiency. For EFSP regular fiscal year awards, only 3.5% of awards to the program are used for program administration, allowing more than 96% of funds to be invested directly in assistance delivered by local agencies in their communities.
HOW TO APPLY
Phases 42 and 43 of the Emergency Food & Shelter Program are expected to become available soon. Please check back here for updates.
Milwaukee County organizations: When Phases 42 and 43 open, organizations can apply through the Hunger Task Force website: https://www.hungertaskforce.org/efsp-grants/
Waukesha County organizations: The application to apply will be posted here when available.
QUESTIONS?
Contact Krystina Kohler via email or Maria Mundt via email.