The Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) was established to supplement the work of local social service organizations within the United States, both public and nonprofit, to help people in need of emergency assistance. The program serves more than 2,500 local jurisdictions that convene Local Boards, helping to fund approximately 10,000 to 12,000 public and nonprofit Local Recipient Organizations (LRO). 

By statute, the EFSP is governed by a National Board that sets the program’s policies and procedures and determines the funding allocations to local communities across the country as well as eligible uses of the funds. FEMA chairs the National Board, with membership that includes individuals nominated by six national nonprofit organizations named in the statute: 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 the sole eligible recipient of federal funds for EFSP. The program is administered at the community level by Local Boards and State Set-Aside Committees (SSA) with membership largely mirroring the National Board and a local government representative (Local Boards) or the Governor (SSA) instead of FEMA. Local Boards and SSAs determine which LROs within their jurisdictions are to be awarded funds and the National Board disburses the funds directly to the LROs.   

Applicants can submit applications for this funding opportunity through FEMA Grants Outcomes (GO). Access the system at https://go.fema.gov/.

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