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 Facebook page and website, and in the 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.
EFSP Phase 41
Johnson County, Kansas has been awarded Federal funds for Phase 41 of the Emergency, Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) by the state set-aside committee in the amount of $116,975; funds supplement emergency food and shelter programs locally.
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) demonstrated 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.
Public or private agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds should contact Rita Carr at United Community Services of Johnson County at ritac@ucsjoco.org or 913-438-4764 to request an application. Applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4th, 2024.