United Way Announces Emergency Food and Shelter Funding Available

On April 1, 2017, $139,638 will be available in Emergency Food & Shelter Program funds (EFSP) to organizations in New London Census County to supplement already existing emergency food and shelter programs.  The funds are made available through the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency.  Funding amounts are determined nationally by a board chaired by FEMA.  In 2016, EFSP funding in New London County provided 26,827 meals, 2,740 shelter bed nights, 134 households with rental assistance, and 48 households with utility assistance. Qualifying local organizations are urged to apply.

Completed applications are due to United Way of Southeastern Connecticut by Monday, March 6, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. You will find the application and other instructions and requirements at www.uwsect.org/efsp. For the first time in conjunction with this funding, United Way will host a Bidder’s Conference on Monday, February 13, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at United Way in Gales Ferry.

A Local Board is charged with distributing these funds to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas within the county. The Local Board will review applications requesting funds in the following priority areas: rent/mortgage assistance, utility assistance, mass shelter costs, other shelter, and mass feeding (served meals or food pantry).

Under the terms of this award, agencies chosen to receive funds must:

• Be private voluntary nonprofits with 501 c 3 status or units of government eligible to receive Federal funds;
• Have an accounting system and conduct an annual independent audit;
• Practice nondiscrimination;
• Have demonstrated the capacity to provide emergency food and/or shelter programs;
• Have a voluntary board of directors if they are a private organization; and
• Have a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) and a Federal D-U-N-S Identification Number.

The national Emergency Food and Shelter Program was created in 1983 as a program to supplement and expand the work of local social service agencies, both nonprofit and governmental, in an effort to help people with economic emergencies. The program is typically supported by local United Ways throughout the country. United Way of Southeastern Connecticut has been the local administrator for EFSP for more than 20 years. United Way does not make funding decisions, but carries out the administrative requires of the program. During its years of operation, the program has disbursed over $3.3 billion nationally.

Completed applications must be received by United Way of Southeastern Connecticut, Attention: Anne Stockton, by Monday, March 6, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. If you have questions, please contact Anne Stockton, Community Impact Director, at (860) 464-3321 or anne.stockton@uwsect.org. About United Way of Southeastern Connecticut:
United Way of Southeastern Connecticut is a locally-based non-profit organization supporting a network of 72 health and human services, programs, and initiatives in New London County that work together to help people in need and improve community conditions. Supported programs include early care and education, child development and disabilities, physical and mental health care, crisis intervention, shelter, employment training, emergency/disaster preparation, and response and recovery service.

United Way operates the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center which provides food to more than 80 free emergency food programs and a Mobile Food Pantry program, at no cost to those in need. United Way supports 2-1-1 Connecticut for free information and referral 24/7 and Project Warm-up for one-time, emergency heating assistance. Visit United Way online at www.uwsect.org to get involved.