On March 15, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 (Public Law No: 117-103) was signed into law. The Act provides $150 million for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) to provide humanitarian relief to families and individuals encountered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). FEMA awarded the funds to the National Board on April 15, 2022. The EFSP National Board which is composed of 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, United Way Worldwide, and FEMA, with FEMA serving as the board chair. EFSP was chosen to disburse these funds for providing humanitarian relief to families and individuals because of the program's established mission in supplementing and expanding the ongoing work of local social service organizations, both non-profit and governmental, to provide shelter, food and supportive services to those who are, or who are at risk of becoming, homeless and/or hungry. The program's existing grant funds delivery-structure and public-private partnership made it a viable means for providing funds quickly to organizations providing humanitarian relief to families and individuals encountered by DHS.
The application period for the Humanitarian Funding will be opened from April 15, 2022 through May 27, 2022. The application will close on May 27, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Any agency that provides services may either apply via the EFSP website by selecting Supplemental Funding Info from the home page to access the application for reimbursement of already incurred expenses or contact its Local Board about submitting a Special Funding Request (SFR) for advance funding to meet anticipated needs. Agencies may apply for reimbursement for already incurred expenses from January 1, 2022 through March 31, 2022. After review of agencies' applications, Local Boards must submit them to the National Board by June 3, 2022. No application received after the deadline will be considered for funding during this application period. As funding may be limited to meet every request, Primary Services (food and shelter) will be considered for reimbursement first. Should funds remain, Secondary Services, Administrative Services, Equipment and Assets Services, and Transportation Services will be considered. Agencies will be able to apply for funding in each category. Any nonprofit, faith-based or government agency that can document expenditures made to migrants encountered by DHS at the southern border may be considered to receive funds for eligible services provided; current or former EFSP participation is not a requisite for application submission. Eligible organizations that provide shelter, food, transportation, basic heath and first aid, COVID-19 testing and associated medical care needed during quarantine and isolation, and other supportive services may apply. Most of the funding is anticipated to be awarded to service organizations from southern border states where the greatest needs are expected to be met but all agencies throughout the country may apply for funding. |
