EFSP is an example of United Way’s efforts to advance the common good. For United Way this means the creation of opportunities, the prevention of problems, and helping everyone in the community reach his or her full potential. In essence, we all win when a child succeeds in school, when a neighborhood turns around, when workers have good jobs, and when families have good health, shelter and nutrition. Since its inception in 1983, EFSP has distributed more than $2.9 billion to more than 2,500 cities and counties nationwide. With the participation of nearly 12,000 local nonprofit, faith-based, and government agencies, it is an extraordinary example of a public/private partnership tailored to the most pressing needs of communities and families. EFSP distributes funds to the neediest areas of the country quickly, utilizing only a small percentage of the funds for administrative costs. In FY 2006, with funding of only $151 million, EFSP provided 4.3 million meals, 285,000 nights of shelter, 88,411 utility payments, and 64, 586 rent and mortgage payments.

EFSP is governed by a National Board comprising representatives from six agencies designated by Congress, and is chaired by a representative of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The members of the EFSP National Board are:

• Federal Emergency Management Agency, Chair
• American Red Cross
• Catholic Charities USA
• National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA
• The Salvation Army
• United Jewish Communities
• United Way of America-Secretariat and Fiscal Agent*

(*United Way of America is the Secretariat and Fiscal Agent to the Board, which relieves FEMA of the majority of the administrative burden. In this capacity, United Way of America maintains a staff of 10 dedicated individuals with responsibility for administering the program. In fact, no money from the EFSP grant goes towards the salary of a full-time employee at FEMA.)

EFSP ensures local decision-making because local boards, similar in composition to the National Board, determine which service providers in their communities receive funds. Specifically, once the federal government has allocated the EFSP funds for a particular year, local Boards similar in composition to the National Board:
(1) advertise the availability of funds,
(2) establish priorities among community needs,
(3) allocate funds to emergency food and shelter agencies, and
(4) help monitor program compliance.
Local agencies that qualify for awards, known as “Local Recipient Organizations,” use EFSP funds for served meals or groceries, lodging in a mass shelter or hotel, or one month’s rent, mortgage, or utility payment in a given year.

On September 30, 2008, the President signed H.R. 2638, the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009 (the “Continuing Resolution”). This legislation provides full FY 2009 funding in the areas of Defense, Homeland Security, and Military Construction, and funding until March 2009 for other federal government programs. The Continuing Resolution included full FY 2009 funding for EFSP, which received an increase from the FY 2008 level of $153 Million to $200 Million for FY 2009. With an increasing number of Americans turning to EFSP for help, we strongly support this increase in EFSP funding and will continue to urge Congress to support this vital program.