$47,188 in the Emergency Food and Shelter funding awarded to Cape Girardeau County

Cape Girardeau County has been chosen to receive $47,188 in federal funding for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP). This amount represents a 32% increase over last year. The award was made by a National Board chaired by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency and consisting of representatives from The Salvation Army, American Red Cross, United Jewish Communities, Catholic Charities, USA, National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. and the United Way of America. A Local Board is charged with distributing funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country.

The Local Board consists of representatives from the United Way of Southeast Missouri, Community Caring Council, American Red Cross, Catholic Charities, Area Agency on Aging, EMAA, local food banks, and the Cape Girardeau County Commissioners office. They will determine how the funds awarded to Cape County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service organizations in the area. The Local Board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and compliance with program guidelines for any funds utilized.

Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, 2) have an accounting system, 3) practice nondiscrimination, 4) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and 5) if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board. Qualifying organizations are urged to apply.

In 2008, $35,661 of EFSP funding was distributed in Cape Girardeau County to East Missouri Action Agency, FISH, Jackson Food Pantry, Jackson Ministerial Alliance, Safe House for Women, and the Salvation Army. These agencies were responsible for providing over 2,203 nights of lodging, $10,699 in rent, mortgage and utility assistance and food to 2,100 people this past year with this funding.

Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Programs seeking funding must contact John McGowan with the United Way of Southeast Missouri at 573-334-9634 to apply for funding prior to March 6, 2009.

About the Emergency Food and Shelter Program

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; United Jewish Communities; The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.; The Salvation Army; and United Way of America. The Board is chaired by a representative of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

During its 25 years of operation, the program disbursed over $3.1 billion to over 12,000 local providers in more than 2,500 counties and cities.

The program's objectives are:

Øto allocate funds to the neediest areas,

Øto ensure fast response,

Øto foster public/private sector cooperation,

Øto ensure local decision making, and

Øto maintain minimal, but accountable, reporting.

How is the Program Governed Locally?

Locally, the program is a model of public-private cooperation. Each civil jurisdiction (a county or city) funded by the program must constitute a local board. The board must be composed of representatives of the same organizations as those on the National Board, with a local government official replacing the FEMA representative. The Local Board members elect their chair. Local boards may also have additional members, and, since 1993, local boards have been required to include a homeless or formerly homeless person as a member. If a jurisdiction is located within or encompasses a Federally recognized Indian reservation, a Native American representative must be invited to serve on the local board.

The National Board awards funds to jurisdictions based upon a formula; in addition, a small portion of the overall award is allocated by formula to state set-aside committees, who then allocate funds to jurisdictions based upon the criteria they feel is most appropriate.

Once an award is made by either the National Board or a state set-aside committee, local boards decide which agencies are to receive funds, and then those agencies are paid directly by the National Board. Within a jurisdiction, no more than 2% of the entire award may be used for administrative costs by the local board and agencies combined. For specific information about the Emergency Food and Shelter Program in your community, see Your Community.

What is a State Set-Aside Committee?

In 1985, the National Board created a state set-aside process to identify and fund areas of need not reflected in the national criteria. State set-aside committees, with members mirroring local boards, receive funds based upon the number of unemployed people in counties within their state that do not qualify under the National Board's criteria. State committees may use any criteria they wish to develop a needs-based formula to determine which jurisdictions receive funding. The committees must give priority to jurisdictions which have not qualified under the National Board formula, but they may also select, with National Board approval, jurisdictions that were funded by the National Board.

State Set-Aside Committees may use up .5% for administrative purposes. In a few states, the state set-aside committee acts as a local board and funds agencies directly state-wide.

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.

One month's rent or mortgage payment.

One month's utility bill.

Minimal repairs to allow a mass feeding or sheltering facility to function during the program year.

Equipment necessary to feed or shelter people, up to a $300 limit per item.

. For more information please visit http://www.efsp.unitedway.org/efsp/pages/about.htm

About United Way of Southeast Missouri

The United Way of Southeast Missouri envisions a safe, healthy, and proactively caring community in which every individual thrives during each stage of life: Healthy Babies; Successful Children; Responsible Adults; Active Seniors. The Mission of the United Way of Southeast Missouri is to serve as the leader in uniting people and resources around health and human service issues to build a stronger and healthier community. Our goal is to create lasting change that prevents problems from happening in the first place. Here in Southeast Missouri we're committed to STRENGTHENING FAMILIES. We want to ensure that: Children will grow to be successful in life. Families are financially self-sufficient. Our elderly and disabled live as independently as possible. Our citizens reach out to help our community. For more information please visit www.UnitedWayofSEMO.org or call 573-334-9634.