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. United Way of South Central Illinois administers the EFSP Local Boards for Jefferson & Marion County jurisdictions.

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EFSP National Board:

 

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

Secretariat and Fiscal Agent: United Way Worldwide.

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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.

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EFSP Guiding Principles are:

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• 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

 

Jefferson & Marion County Local Boards

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The Jefferson & Marion Counties local boards are comprised of representatives from United Way and other community organizations.

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The EFSP Local Board’s responsibility is to:

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• 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.

 

Local Recipient Organizations Requirements:

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• Be private, not-for-profit agencies or units of government.

• Be eligible to receive Federal funds by having Unique Entity Identifier (UEIN) - The National Board required all agencies receiving funds to have a Data Universal Number (DUNS) issued by DUN & Bradstreet because it was a requirement to receive Federal funds. The DUNS number is no longer used by the Federal Government; it is now obsolete. The DUNS number was replaced with a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Agencies may obtain a UEI via the Sam.gov website. Instructions are provided for agencies who may need to get a UEI on the Sam.gov homepage. Agencies may view a video for guidance on the website. All agencies participating in the EFSP must have a UEI registered with Sam.gov. The National Board staff will provide guidance to agencies and Local Boards to provide their UEI to the National Board

• Have a 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.

 

Applications:

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The Phase 42 Applications can be accessed by clicking here. Phase 42 application is due by December 20 at noon.

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Please review the EFSP Manual to ensure that your program/organization will be able to meet all documentation requirements. It is the responsibility of each applicant to be knowledgeable of the manual and all addendums.

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EFSP Manual available here.

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Resources:

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For the Phase 42 fiscal year 2024 allocations, click here.

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For an overview of EFSP, click here.
 
For more information about EFSP,  visit efsp.unitedway.org