INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The United Way of Indian River County has been notified that Indian River County will receive federal funds under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program (EFSP).
The Phase 32 award of $20,283 will be used to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the area. This year’s award is significantly less than the Phase 31 award of $65,772 because Indian River County did not qualify for a “direct allocation” in this phase. Criteria used for a direct allocation include the County’s rates of unemployment and poverty.
Local Board Chairman Michael Kint said “Last year’s grant award provided funds for six local nonprofit agencies in the areas of mass shelter, off-site shelter, rental and mortgage assistance, utility assistance and support for a food pantry.”
“The next step in the process for receiving these Phase 32 monies is for the Local Board to solicit requests from local organizations for funding,” Kint said.
Under the terms of this grant, organizations chosen to receive EFSP funds must be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, use funds to supplement and extend existing services and programs, have an accounting system, practice non-discrimination, have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a volunteer board and comply with all EFSP regulations.
Qualifying organizations interested in applying for funds should submit their requests to Michael Kint at [email protected]. Requests are due by 12 p.m. on April 6, 2015.
The decision to provide funds to Indian River County was made by a National Board chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) which consists of representatives from The Salvation Army, American Red Cross, United Jewish Communities, Catholic Charities, U.S.A., National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. and United Way of America which will provide the administrative staff and function as fiscal agent. This National Board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country.
The Local EFSP Board made up of representatives from government, religious and human service agencies will be convened to determine how the funds will be awarded among the local emergency food and shelter programs. The Local Board is responsible for determining which local human service agencies will receive these funds.
