Monday, March 20, 2023 
Contact Information:
Hernando EFSP Local Board
United Way of Hernando County
Angie B. Walasek, Executive Director & Hernando EFSP Admin
Email: Angie@UnitedWayHernando.org
Phone: 352-688-2026
Fax: 352-688-8336
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HERNANDO COUNTY HAS BEEN AWARDED FEDERAL FUNDS UNDER THE
EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM FOR PHASE 40
Spring Hill, FL – March 20, 2023 - Hernando County has been awarded a total of $57,571 to supplement Emergency Food and Shelter Programs (ESFP) throughout the county for Phase 40. The announcement was made by a National Board that is chaired by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency. The award amount is based on the average number of unemployed individuals in the Hernando area, the total number of individuals below the poverty level, and the jurisdiction’s total population.
The designated Spending Period for Phase 40 is 11/1/2021 to 12/31/2023
Agency applications are now being accepted for Phase 40. A Local Board made up of representatives from American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, Local Government, the Jewish Federation, Mid Florida Homeless Coalition, and United Way of Hernando County will determine how the funds are to be granted to qualified Hernando County organizations. These funds are to be distributed to supplement and expand ongoing efforts to provide shelter, food and supportive services for Hernando’s hungry, homeless, and residents in economic crisis. The Local Board is responsible for the process and recommendation of agencies who will receive EFSP funds and any additional funds under this program.
Under the terms of the grant from the National Board; local agencies awarded must:
- Be a 501(c)3 non-profit agency in good standing with the IRS and National Board
- Have at least a minimum of one year of operations, providing services in the field they are applying for
- Have demonstrated the capability to deliver the following: served meals, other food, mass shelter, other shelter, rent/mortgage assistance, or utility assistance
- Have the ability to maintain and submit comprehensive reports with supporting backup documentation (including backdated reports)
- Have the ability to operate on a reimbursable basis
- Be a private voluntary non-profit or unit of government
- Have a reliable accounting system
- Practice non-discrimination
- Have a voluntary Board of Directors if they are a private voluntary organization
- It is strongly recommended that applicants are listed on the Mid Florida Information Network system or willing to participate (Local Board recommendation)
Agencies interested in applying for Phase 40 program funds may email a request for application to Finance@UnitedWayHernando.org. It is recommended for applying agencies to visit www.efsp.unitedway.org prior to submission, for additional tools that cover EFSP requirements, recent changes, reporting for Local Recipient Organizations (LRO), as well as the EFSP Manual.
Hard copies of completed applications are to be submitted to the United Way of Hernando County office via mail or drop-off no later than Friday, April 28, 2023 by 5:00pm. [United Way of Hernando County address: 4028 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, FL 34606] The Local Board will review applications shortly after, and applicants will be contacted by mid-May with allocation results and further instructions.
For more information, please contact Hernando's EFSP Admin, Angie B. Walasek Angie@UnitedWayHernando.org
For more information on Emergency Food & Shelter National Board Program, please visit www.efsp.unitedway.org.
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Emergency Food & Shelter Program:
The Emergency Food and Shelter Program was established on March 24, 1983, with the signing of the "Jobs Stimulus Bill," Public Law 98-8. That legislation created a National Board, chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that consisted of representatives of the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, The Jewish Federations of North America, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, The Salvation Army and United Way Worldwide. The EFSP was authorized under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (P.L. 100-77 signed into law on July 24, 1987, since renamed the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and subsequently reauthorized under P.L. 100-628, signed into law on November 7, 1988). Since 1983, in its 38-year history, the EFSP will have distributed $5.03 billion to over 14,000 human service agencies in more than 2,500 communities across the country through this collaborative effort between the private and public sectors.