EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM GRANT
QUESTIONS?
CONTACT RITA CARR
$1.7M
Total funds
awarded
$116,975
Funds awarded
in 2024
7
Local programs funded
in 2024
OVERVIEW
The program is governed by a National Board chaired by FEMA and consisting 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. UCS facilitates the EFSP Local Board in Johnson County.
CURRENT GRANT CYCLE
2025 Grant Cycle Opened: May 28, 2025
2025 Grant Cycle Closed: June 11, 2025 by 4 p.m.
Applicant Criteria: Qualifying agencies must be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, eligible to receive Federal funds, have a recognized accounting system, practice nondiscrimination, demonstrate capability to deliver services, and have an unpaid board (for private voluntary organizations).
The current EFSP Phase 42 is paused at the national level, but the Johnson County EFSP Board held a grant competition to prepare for submission when Phase 42 became un-paused. Johnson County received $98,127 in Federal funds for Phase 42 of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program to supplement local emergency food and shelter programs. Phase 42 grant funds must be spent by December 31, 2025.
The Local EFSP Board selected three priorities for Phase 42 funding: other food, other shelter, and rent/mortgage assistance.
Johnson County receives an allocation from the Kansas EFSP State Set-Aside Committee, not the National EFSP Board. The Local EFSP Board shares public notice of the application information through the Johnson County Continuum of Care (CoC) email list, UCS’s website, and a local newspaper. To join the CoC email list, contact Rita Carr at ritac@ucsjoco.org.
ALLOWABLE GRANT COSTS
SERVED MEALS
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).
Ineligible Items: Any items not related to actual feeding of a client. Excessive meal costs. Excessive snack food items. Staff events/ functions.
OTHER FOOD
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.
Ineligible Items: Tobacco, alcohol, paper products. Any non-food item. Excessive meal costs. Excessive snack food items. Staff events/functions.
MASS SHELTER
Eligible Items: Direct expenses associated with housing a client (e.g., supplies, linens, etc.); transportation costs; daily per diem schedule ($12.50)
Ineligible Items: Year-round ongoing operational costs (rent, pest-control, garbage pick-up, utilities); salaries of employees.
OTHER SHELTER
Eligible Items: Any reasonable hotel/motel or non-profit facility acting as a vendor; SRO; actual charge by vendor, per night; 90 day limit.
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.
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.)
Ineligible Items: Decorative curtains, carpet, clothing, TVs, computer systems, office equipment, bedroom furniture other than beds (nightstand, lamps, etc.).
REHABILITATION/ EMERGENCY REPAIRS
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.
Ineligible Items: Rehabilitation for expansion, routine maintenance, or to prepare facility to open as direct costs.
RENT/ MORTGAGE
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.
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
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.
Ineligible Items: Payments for utilities exceeding one month’s cost; deposits; cable, or satellite TV bills; phone bills; internet service; late fees.
ADMINISTRATIVE ALLOWANCE
Eligible Items: Limited to 2% of total funds received by jurisdiction; any expenses associated with administering this program (telephone costs, stamps, etc.).
Ineligible Items: Administrative expenses not related to the EFSP program.
