EFSP Grant Money Available To Local Agencies

Lincoln Herald

Posted on: 01/13/21

Time is running out on an opportunity for local non-profits to apply for a federal grant to help in their efforts to serve the food and/or housing needs of Lincoln County's disadvantaged population.  

Lincoln County has been awarded $31,382 in FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) funds under the EFSP (Emergency Food & Shelter Program) Phase 38 supplemental emergency food and shelter program.  Local agencies have been encouraged to apply for part or all of the money, but the deadline to apply is next Thursday (Jan. 22nd).

A Local Board made up of representatives from the Lincoln County Department of Social Services, Lincolnton Housing Authority, American Red Cross, Pisgah United Methodist Church, Gaston Community Action, the YMCA, NC Works Career Center, Senior Services, Veterans Affairs office, and United Way of Lincoln County will determine how the funds awarded to Lincoln County are to be distributed among the programs that supplement emergency food and shelter assistance. The local board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds available under this phase of the program.

Local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, 2) be eligible to receive federal funds, 3) have an accounting system, 4) practice nondiscrimination, 5) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and 6) if they are a private voluntary organization, have a voluntary board. 

The allocations were made by a National Board that is chaired by the US Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and consists of representatives from the American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; the Jewish Federations of North America, the Salvation Army; and, United Way Worldwide.  The Local Board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country.

In previous years, Lincoln County has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter funds to Hesed House of Hope and the Lincoln County Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

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Qualifying agencies are urged to apply. For more information, they should contact Local Board chairman Anthony Simpson at 704-735-8035 or Kathy Vinzant at the United Way of Lincoln County at 704-240-8621.  Mail inquiries are also welcomed at the United Way of Lincoln County, PO Box 234 Lincolnton, NC 28093, but considering the proximity of the deadline, it is probably best to call for an application.  The deadline for applying for this grant is January 22, 2021.