UCS facilitates the EFSP Local Board in Johnson County. The following description is quoted from the EFSP Website (unitedway.org).
The Emergency Food and Shelter 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 Board is chaired by a representative of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
EFSP Guiding Principles are:
- Efficiency—fiscal administration, reporting and procedural guidance to Local Boards and 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
How Are Emergency Food and Shelter Program Funds Used?
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/motel.
- Rent or mortgage payment(s), up to 90 days.
- Utility bill(s), up to 90 days.
- Equipment necessary to feed or shelter people, up to a $300 limit per item.
Johnson County EFSP Local Board
Johnson County does not receive a direct EFSP allocation from the National EFSP Board but can receive an allocation from the Kansas EFSP State Set-Aside Committee. When the Local EFSP Board is notified of an allocation, public notice of the application information is shared through the Johnson County Continuum of Care’s email list, UCS’s website, and in a local newspaper per EFSP instructions. To join the CoC email list, contact ritac@ucsjoco.org. Johnson County’s Local ESFP Board selects priorities for funding during each EFSP Phase and will indicate these in the application.
Allowable Grant Costs
SERVED MEALS
Sample Eligible Items: Any food used in served meals (cold or hot); costs of transporting food to site or client; daily per meal schedule ($3/meal).
Sample Ineligible Items: Any items not related to actual feeding of a client. Excessive meal costs. Excessive snack food items. Staff events/ functions.
OTHER FOOD
Sample Eligible Items: Food vouchers, food boxes, grocery orders, restaurant vouchers, etc., food purchased for food banks and/or food pantries, vouchers, gift certificates (limited), transportation costs.
Sample Ineligible Items: Tobacco, alcohol, paper products. Any non-food item. Excessive meal costs. Excessive snack food items. Staff events/functions.
MASS SHELTER
Sample Eligible Items: Direct expenses associated with housing a client (e.g., supplies, linens, etc.); transportation costs; daily per diem schedule ($12.50)
Sample Ineligible Items: Year-round ongoing operational costs (rent, pest-control, garbage pick-up, utilities); salaries of employees.
OTHER SHELTER
Sample Eligible Items: Any reasonable hotel/motel or non-profit facility acting as a vendor; SRO; actual charge by vendor, per night; 90 day limit.
Sample Ineligible Items: An LRO receiving funds may not act as a vendor for themselves or another funded LRO. Stay beyond 30 days per phase. Prepayments for hotel/motel.
SUPPLIES/ EQUIPMENT
$300 per item maximum.
Sample Eligible Items: Mass feeding: pots, pans, toasters, blenders, microwave, utensils, paper products, any item essential to the preparation of food, shelving. Diapers. Mass shelter: cots, blankets, pillows, toilet paper, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, cleaning materials, limited first-aid supplies, underwear/ diapers. Emergency repair of essential small equipment ($300 limit for both mass feeding and mass shelter.)
Sample Ineligible Items: Decorative curtains, carpet, clothing, TVs, computer systems, office equipment, bedroom furniture other than beds (nightstand, lamps, etc.).
REHABILITATION/ EMERGENCY REPAIRS
Sample Eligible Items: Building code violations, handicap ramp, etc. ($2,500 limit); Emergency repairs are only allowed in support of per meal schedule or per diem schedule for mass feeding sites or mass shelters. All expenditures require prior approval by both the National Board and Local Board.
Sample Ineligible Items: Rehabilitation for expansion, routine maintenance, or to prepare facility to open as direct costs.
RENT/ MORTGAGE
Sample Eligible Items: Past due rent or mortgage payment (P&I only); current rent or mortgage due within 10 calendar days; first month's rent; lot fee for mobile homes. Limited to 90 days (3 months) cost for an individual/ family per phase.
Sample Ineligible Items: Payment for rent/mortgage exceeding one month's cost; deposits; down- payment for purchase of home; late fees; legal fees; taxes, insurance & escrow accounts.
UTILITIES
Sample Eligible Items: Past due bills, or current bills due within 10 calendar days, for gas, electricity, oil, water; reconnect fees. May pay budgeted or actual amount. Limited to 90 days (3 months) amount that is part of the arrearage at the time of payment or current one month amount. One-time delivery of firewood, coal, propane.
Sample Ineligible Items: Payments for utilities exceeding one month's cost; deposits; cable, or satellite TV bills; phone bills; internet service; late fees.
ADMINISTRATIVE ALLOWANCE
Sample Eligible Items: Limited to 2% of total funds received by jurisdiction; any expenses associated with administering this program (telephone costs, stamps, etc.).
Sample Ineligible Items: Administrative expenses not related to the EFSP program.
EFSP Phase 42
Phase 42 is currently paused at the national level but the Johnson County EFSP Board is holding the EFSP grant competition to be prepared to submit a funding plan the moment Phase 42 becomes un-paused. Johnson County, Kansas has been allocated Federal funds for Phase 42 of the Emergency, Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) by the state set-aside committee in the amount of $98,127; funds supplement emergency food and shelter programs locally. The Phase 42 grant funds must be spent by 12/31/25. The Local EFSP Board selected the following 3 priorities for Phase 42 funding:
- Other Food
- Other Shelter
- Rent/Mortgage Assistance
Funds are authorized by the National Board, chaired by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency and representatives from American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of the Churches USA, The Jewish Federations of North America, The Salvation Army, and United Way Worldwide. Local Boards distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country.
A Local Board consisting of local representatives of the national organizations participating in the program and other local representatives determine how the funds are allocated to local agencies.
Local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, 2) eligible to receive Federal funds, 3) have a recognized accounting system, 4) practice nondiscrimination, 5) demonstrate capability to deliver services, and 6) if a private voluntary organization, have an unpaid board. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply; previously funded or new to the process.
Applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11th, 2025.
Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/251395672314156