Porter County has been notified that it will be awarded federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) funds through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as appropriated by Congress.
Porter County has been recommended to receive an estimated $24,000 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.
The selection is made by a National Board that is chaired and awarded through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, The Salvation Army, United Jewish Communities and United Way of America. The Local 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.
A Local Board will determine how the funds awarded to Porter County are to be distributed among local agencies in the area. The Local Board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds. In anticipation of this award and deadlines, the Local EFSP Board is encouraging local agencies that meet requirements to apply for the funds.
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) be eligible to receive federal funds, 3) have an accounting system, 4) practice nondiscrimination, 5) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and 6) if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board.
Porter County has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter funds previously with nonprofit organizations providing food, shelter and utility assistance.
Application deadline is Tuesday, September 12. Applicants must attend two meeting in order to apply. The first meeting is Friday, September 8 at 8:30 a.m. The second meeting is Thursday, September 14 at 4 p.m. Both meetings will be held at United Way of Porter County, 951 Eastport Centre Drive, Valparaiso, IN 46383.
Nonprofit organizations or public agencies interested in applying for Phase 34 Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds should contact United Way of Porter County at 219-464-3583 or info@unitedwaypc.org for an application.