The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently announced that an award of federal funds has been made available through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) national board for fiscal year 2020 (Phase 38) for the Lancaster County jurisdiction. Lancaster County has been chosen to receive federal EFSP funds in the amount of $251,200 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in Lancaster County.

The selection was made by the EFSP national board, which is chaired by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's FEMA, and consists of representatives from the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, the Salvation Army, the Jewish Federations of North America, and United Way Worldwide.

A local board made up of local members of these organizations, local government, and various county organizations in Lancaster County will determine how the funds are to be distributed among Lancaster County emergency food and shelter programs. The local board is responsible for recommending Lancaster County agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds available under this phase of the program.

For Lancaster County, the local board has determined that the priorities for the allocation of these funds are rent assistance/eviction prevention, emergency shelter programs (not transitional living programs), and mass feeding/food security programs. The timeframe for eligible expenses for Phase 38 began on Jan. 1 and runs through Monday, May 31.

Under the terms of the grant from the national board, local organizations chosen to receive funds must be a nonprofit or agency of government located in the Lancaster County jurisdiction; be eligible to receive federal funds; have an accounting system or fiscal agent approved by the local board; have a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN); have a Data Universal Number System (DUNS); practice non-discrimination; have demonstrated the capacity to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs; and have a voluntary board.

Organizations interested in applying for EFSP funds for Phase 38 must complete an EFSP Request for Proposal (RFP) application and financial worksheet, available at https://uwlanc.org/efsp. RFPs must be emailed to grants@uwlanc.org by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21. Requests for information about the RFP should be directed to the aforementioned email address.