EFSP Phase 41 Application

                               EFSP Phase 40 Application Release

Wednesday, April 12, 2024

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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HERNANDO COUNTY HAS BEEN AWARDED FEDERAL FUNDS UNDER THE
EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM FOR PHASE 41

Spring Hill, FL – April 12, 2024 - Hernando County has been awarded a total of $61,900 to supplement Emergency Food and Shelter Programs (ESFP) throughout the county for Phase 41. 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 41 is 10/1/2022 to 12/31/2024

Agency applications are now being accepted for Phase 41. 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 allocation decisions to agencies who will receive EFSP funds under this program.

Under the terms of the grant from the National Board; local agencies awarded must:

  1. Be a 501(c)3 non-profit agency in good standing with the IRS and National Board
  2. Have at least a minimum of one year of operations, providing services in the service category they are applying for
  3. Have demonstrated the capability to deliver one or more the following service categories: served meals, other food, mass shelter, other shelter, rent/mortgage assistance, or utility assistance
  4. Have the ability to maintain and submit comprehensive reports with supporting backup documentation (including backdated reports, cleared checks and statements, and additional support documents as requested)
  5. Have the ability to operate on a reimbursable basis
  6. Be a private voluntary non-profit or unit of government     
  7. Have a reliable accounting system
  8. Practice non-discrimination
  9. Have a voluntary Board of Directors if they are a private voluntary organization

Agencies interested in applying for EFSP Phase 41 program funds must attend a mandatory virtual EFSP Agency Workshop on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at 10:00am in order to gain access to this year’s application. This virtual workshop will provide a general overview of the Phase 41 application and LB expectations, along with LRO (Local Recipient Organizations) reporting requirements if awarded. Please email Angie@UnitedWayHernando.org for April 16th’s Zoom invitation. 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 LROs, 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 Thursday, May 16, 2024 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 agencies will be contacted no later than the first week of June 2024 with allocation results and further instructions.   

For more information on Emergency Food & Shelter National Board Program, please visit www.UnitedWayHernando.org/EFSP-41 or www.efsp.unitedway.org.

For additional guidance, please contact Hernando's EFSP Admin, Angie B. Walasek Angie@UnitedWayHernando.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.