Alpena County, Alcona County and Montmorency County have been awarded funds under Phase 38 of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP). Congress has appropriated $125 million to supplement and expand emergency food and shelter programs. The National Board has included a reallocation of $15 million in the Phase 38 awards. The total available for allocation in Phase 38 is $140 million. Each county’s award is based upon the county’s total number of unemployed as compared to the total number of unemployed in all qualifying jurisdictions. Alpena has been awarded $12,950, Alcona $4,901 and Montmorency $5,211.
Each county has a Local EFSP Board that will allocate the money awarded to their county to fund existing programs in compliance with EFSP national standards that assist residents with emergency food, shelter and utility payments. Each county’s Local Board is made up of representatives from food pantries, charitable groups, human service agencies, government and local churches.
Under terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funding must: 1) be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, 2) be eligible to receive federal funds, 3) have an accounting system, 4) practice non-discrimination, 5) have the capacity to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and 6) if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply for funding.
Organizations interested in applying for EFSP funds should contact the United Way of Northeast Michigan, administrator of EFSP program funds, at 989-354-2221 or jgentry@unitedwaynemi.org. Applications are available from the United Way or you can download and fill one out at this link here.
Deadline for applications is Friday, January 22, 2021.