Emergency Food & Shelter Program

EFSP was established by Congress in 1983, in response to the 1982 Recession, which brought to light that public and charitable institutions at the state and local levels could not adequately respond to the nation’s homeless and food insecurity crises without Federal support. The program funds can be used for a broad range of services, including mass shelter; mass feeding; food distribution through food pantries and food banks; one-month assistance with rent or mortgage payments, and/or utility payments, to prevent evictions; and transition assistance from shelters to stable living conditions.

EFSP is administered by a National Board chaired by FEMA, in partnership with American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., The Salvation Army, The Jewish Federations of North America, and United Way Worldwide, which serves as the National Board’s Secretariat and Fiscal Agent.

United Way of Southwest Wyoming serves as the contact for the Local Board, which covers Fremont, Lincoln, Sublette, Sweetwater and Uinta Counties. The National Board determines, through county statistics: population; unemployment rate and poverty rate, how much each county is awarded for each funding Phase. The Local Board reviews applications and awards local programs funds from the allotted amount.

Phase 39 Awards - $21,000

Almost Home - $5,145
First Stop Help Center - $5,145
Eagles Hope Transitions - $5,145
Foundations for Nations - $5,145
United Way of Southwest Wyo (admin) - $420

 

ARPA-R Awards - $26,500

Almost Home - $6,990
First Stop Help Center - $6,990
Eagles Hope Transitions - $5,000
Foundations for Nations - $6,990
United Way of Southwest Wyo (admin) - $530

Phase 39 Awards - $7,450

Afton Food Pantry - $7,301
United Way of Southwest Wyo (admin) - $149

ARPA-R Awards - $9,650

Afton Food Pantry - $9,457
United Way of Southwest Wyo (admin) - $193

Phase 39 Awards - $4,550

Community Food Closet - Big Piney - $4,459
United Way of Southwest Wyo (admin) - $91

ARPA-R Awards - $7,250

Sublette County Pioneers - $7,105
United Way of Southwest Wyo (admin) - $145

Phase 39 Awards - $17,315

Boys & Girls Club of Sweetwater County - $600
Sweetwater Family Resource Center - $7,369
Young at Heart - $9,000
United Way of Southwest Wyo (admin) - $346

ARPA-R Awards - $53,518

Boys & Girls Club of Sweetwater County - $600
Food Bank of Sweetwater County - $20,000
Sweetwater Family Resource Center - $30,631
United Way of Southwest Wyoming Community Diaper Bank - $1,217
United Way of Southwest Wyo (admin) - $1,070

Phase 39 Awards - $8,750

Pioneer Counseling Services - $500
SAFV Task Force - $4,000
Uinta BOCES Foundation - $2,000
Youth Alternative Home Association - $2,075
United Way of Southwest Wyo (admin) - $175

ARPA-R Awards - $13,700

Evanston Youth Club - $2,000
Pioneer Counseling Services - $3,500
SAFV Task Force - $4,426
Uinta BOCES Foundation - $2,500
United Way of Southwest Wyo (admin) - $274

Local boards must be comprised of representatives at the local level of the same organizations as those on the National Board. A local government official must serve in place of the FEMA representative. In jurisdictions where affiliates of National Board representatives do not exist, other appropriate representatives should be invited to sit on the local board. Local boards must also include in their membership a representative who is homeless, formerly homeless, or a former recipient of program services. If the jurisdiction is located within or encompasses any federally recognized tribal lands, the local board must invite a tribal representative from each tribe to serve on the board. If a jurisdiction has a tribal population, then a tribal representative must also be invited to serve.

Additionally, the National Board encourages local boards to expand their membership to best reflect the community. In expanding membership, local boards must invite organizations that advocate for or provide services to the elderly, families with children, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. Local boards advertise the availability of funds, establish priorities among community needs, award funds to recipient organizations, notify the National Board of funding decisions so the National Board can disburse funds directly to recipient organizations, and monitor and assist recipient organizations to ensure they follow program guidelines.

If you are interested in serving on the Local Board contact Shelley at srichno@swunitedway, 307.362.5003.