Application for Emergency Food And Shelter Program Funds

The Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) was created in 1983 to supplement and expand the work of local social service agencies, both nonprofit and governmental, in an effort to help people with economic emergencies (not disaster-related emergencies). EFSP funds are open to all organizations helping people who are experiencing hunger and/or homelessness. EFSP funds must be used to supplement feeding, sheltering (including transitional sheltering) and rent/mortgage and utility assistance efforts only.

In FY 2023, FEMA awarded to the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) National Board the $130 million made available under the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Action, 2023 (Pub. L. No. 117-328). The FY 2023 $130 million in annual funding is Phase 41 of the program and not the supplemental humanitarian relief funding.

Locally, the Cuyahoga County Emergency Food and Shelter Program Board is the entity responsible for allocation of the $546,076 in Federal dollars that have been awarded to Cuyahoga County. The local board selects local nonprofit or governmental organizations that have a demonstrated capability to provide emergency food and/or shelter. All awards must be expended by the recipient organizations within the funding cycle.