CULLMAN – Congress has appropriated $120 million to supplement and expand the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP). Each jurisdiction’s award is based on the jurisdiction’s total number of unemployed as compared to the total number of unemployed in all qualifying jurisdictions.
Cullman’s total award amount is $30,984, and according to Executive Director of Victim Services of Cullman, Donna Jacobs, funds will be distributed to local agencies.
“Places like the local food banks, Daystar Homeless Shelter and Victim Services use these funds to purchase food,” Jacobs said. “There is a great need for these funds because of the homeless population in Cullman, and it isn’t just homeless that are in need of food assistance. There are many who work that are in need of this help as well.”
Local boards must ensure that agencies selected for funding meet the requirements on the Local Recipients Organization (LRO) certification form. Agencies selected must be able to completely and accurately obtain, retain and submit (if requested) the required expenditure documentation with their final reports and required spreadsheets.
The next meeting of the local EFSP will be Sept. 6 at the United Way of Cullman County at 10 a.m.
The Emergency Food and Shelter Program 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 Board is chaired by a representative of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
During its 33 years of operation, the program disbursed over $4.198 billion to over 14,000 local providers in more than 2,500 counties and cities.
To learn more, visit https://www.efsp.unitedway.org/efsp/website.
