February 12, 2022 - Ellis County has been awarded federal funds made available through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the Emergency Food and Shelter (EFSP) National Board program to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.
The EFSP Local Board #803400 will be reviewing applications for local emergency food/shelter programs to receive a portion of a $214,711 (American Rescue Plan Act or ARPA) federal grant. The local EFSP board will determine how the funds will be distributed among agencies in the county.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to apply for this funding opportunity, an organization must:
- Be a 501(c)(3) non-profit or agency in good standing with the IRS
- Be eligible to receive Federal funds
- Have an accounting system
- Have a valid Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)
- Have a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number issued by Dun & Bradstreet
- Practice non-discrimination (agencies with a religious affiliation, will not refuse service to a client based on religion, nor engage in religious proselytizing or religious counseling in any program receiving Federal funds)
- Have the capacity to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs
- Have a voluntary board that meets at least semi-annually.
Eligible organizations may request a minimum of $1,000 per organization.
EFSP funds must be used to supplement or expand existing resources. The local EFSP board for Ellis County 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.
HOW TO APPLY
The application window for Phase ARPA will be open February 12, 2022. Applicants must fill out the application below and be submitted online to jmcnulty@uwwec.org no later than February 25, 2022 at 11:59pm (CST).
EFSP Phase 39/ARPA Application*
* Combined application with Phase 39
WHAT IS EFSP?
The Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) began in 1983 with a $50 million federal appropriation. The program was created by Congress to help meet the needs of hungry and homeless people throughout the United States and its territories by allocating federal funds for the provision of food and shelter.
The program is governed by a National Board composed of representatives of the 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. The national board is chaired by a representative of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
During its 36 years of operation, the national program has disbursed over $4.4 billion to over 14,000 local providers in more than 2,500 counties and cities.
Funds from EFSP are distributed to each county in the United States based on its current population size, unemployment rate, and poverty rate. The United Way of West Ellis County facilitates a local board of community volunteers who decide how the funds from EFSP are distributed within the Ellis County jurisdiction each year.
Please direct any questions to kaseycheshier@gmail.com or jmcnulty@uwwec.org
For more information about EFSP, go to https://www.efsp.unitedway.org/efsp/website/index.cfm.