Barry County has been awarded funds through the State Set-Aside (SSA) process of the Phase CARES of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP). Congress has appropriated $120,00,000 to supplement and expand emergency food and shelter programs. Michigan Association of United Way’s allocated the State Set-Aside dollars given from FEMA. The Barry County jurisdiction has been chosen to receive $17,533.00 to assist in additional food and shelter programming assistance.
The Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program (EFSP) is a Federal program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Assistance Act (PL 100-77) “to supplement and expand ongoing efforts to provide shelter, food and supportive services” by local service organizations for people across our Nation who are hungry, homeless and in economic crisis.
A National Board, chaired by FEMA, with representatives from 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, governs the EFSP. The National Board has selected United Way Worldwide to serve as Secretariat and Fiscal Agency to the National Board.
Under the terms of the grant from the national board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary nonprofits or units of government, 2) be eligible to receive federal funds, 3) have an accounting system, 4) practice nondiscrimination, 5) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and 6) if they are a private voluntary organization, have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply.
Funded agencies must use EFSP supplemental funds for mass shelter, mass feeding, food distribution through food pantries and food banks, one-month utility payments to prevent service cut-offs, and one-month rent/mortgage assistance to prevent evictions or assist people leaving shelter to establish stable living conditions.
Barry County has previously distributed emergency food and shelter funds to Manna’s Market, Barry County United Way – Fresh Food Initiative, Maple Valley Community Center of Hope and the South Michigan Food Bank.
Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for emergency food and shelter program funds must contact Morgan Johnson at the Barry County United Way at morgan@bcunitedway.org or 269-945-4010. Please mail or fax the request to: Barry County United Way: Attention: FEMA/EFSP, 231 South Broadway, Hastings, MI 49058 fax number: (269) 945-4536. For an application. The deadline for applications to be received is Friday, September 18, 2020 by 5pm.
