During the most recent phase for which final data is available (phase 24 or FY 06), over 12,000 social service agencies (both nonprofit and governmental) in more than 2,500 jurisdictions received nearly $151,470 million. This resulted in the provision of more than 66,784,162 million additional meals and 4.1 million additional nights of shelter, payout of approximately 248,869 rent/mortgage and utility bills to keep people in their homes, as well as supplies and minimal repairs for shelters. Web training, called Webinars, was also conducted by program staff for local boards and agencies.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Food and related expenses (such as transporting food/food preparation and serving equipment); mass shelter; other shelter (such as hotels and motels); and rent/mortgage and/or utility assistance limited to one month; and limited repairs to feeding and sheltering facilities.

Emergency Food and Shelter (EFS) National Board Program funds cannot be used for: rental security, deposits of any kind, cash payments of any kind, lobbying efforts, salaries (except as administrative allowance and limited to that total allowance of 2 percent of total award), purchases or improvements of an individual's private property, telephone costs, repairs to government-owned or profit-making facilities and any payments for services not incurred.

For a complete listing on eligible and ineligible costs under this program, refer to the current Phase (fiscal year): Responsibilities and Requirements, issued by the Emergency Food and Shelter Program National Board.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Since funds are initially distributed to jurisdictions based on either a National Board formula or recommendations from State Set-Aside Committees, there is no application process for jurisdictions.

All jurisdictions are considered within the National Board formula and all jurisdictions in an individual State may be considered by the State Set-Aside Committee for either initial or additional (if the jurisdiction had previously been selected by the National Board) funding.

Beneficiary Eligibility

The law directs that the Local Boards, which manage the program at the local level, shall "determine which private nonprofit organizations or public organizations of the local government in the individual locality shall receive grants to act as service providers." The range of local participant groups includes the affiliates of the National Board membership which consists of the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities, USA, United Jewish Communities, National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, The Salvation Army and United Way of America, with a local government representative replacing FEMA. Also participating are thousands of independent nonprofits (such as Community Action Agencies and Food Banks and food pantries) which provide food and/or shelter services. Due to the broad category of people in need of such emergency services, the providers can include specialized groups such as domestic violence shelters, Native American organizations, organizations providing food or shelter to: AIDS patients, handicapped individuals, the elderly, homeless veterans, non-wards of the State teenage runaways, and many other groups with emergency food and shelter needs. As noted earlier, the decisions on selections are made through the consensus of the Local Board as they have assessed their community's most urgent needs. It is important that such agencies use these funds to supplement, not replace, their current efforts. This program is intended to supplement ongoing programs and allow them to extend and expand upon their existing services.

Credentials/Documentation

The program employs a Local Recipient Organization Certification Form. This form certifies an applicant's status (i.e., that it is a nonprofit capable of delivering eligible services) that it will abide by the program guidelines (both on eligible spending and reporting requests), and comply with other fiscal and program rules so stipulated. Grant awards will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular Nos. A-102 and A-87 for State and local governments. Awards made to Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Non-Profit Organizations will be required to follow the requirements of OMB Circular Nos. A-110 and A-21, and be audited under the standards of OMB Circular No. A-133.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

At the local level, following award notification, a Local Board is formed.

That board then advertises the availability of the funds to local nonprofit agencies and governments.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

Application deadline and other information are contained in the application/program guidance.

Award Procedures

Applications or plans are submitted to the National Board and reviewed by National Board program.

Deadlines

Refer to announcement or application guidance for further information.

Authorization

Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, as amended, Title III, Sections 301-316, Public Law 100-77, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 11331-11346.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Refer to program guidance document.

Appeals

Refer to program guidance for information on the appeal process. Those cases that cannot be handled locally should be referred to the National Board giving details on action that has been taken up to that point. Any allegations regarding fraud or the misuse of funds should be referred directly to the FEMA Office of Inspector General.

Renewals

Not applicable. Each phase (fiscal year) is a new program.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

The National Board uses unemployment and poverty statistics as indicators of need. For Phase 26, fiscal year 2008, the following formula was used: (1) Jurisdictions, including balance of counties, with 13,000+ unemployed and a 3.5 percent rate of unemployment. (2) Jurisdictions, including balance of counties, with 300 to 12,999 unemployed and a 5.5 percent rate of unemployment. (3) Jurisdictions, including balance of counties, with 300 or more unemployed and an 11 percent rate of poverty.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Refer to program guidance. Awards are subject to the Cash Management Improvement Act for payment and/or reimbursement of expenditures.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Local Boards are expected to monitor the expenditure of funds in their respective jurisdictions.

It is for that reason that requests for second checks (all awards are divided into two payments) must be made by the Local Boards.

Along with the request for the second payment, the National Board receives an interim report on eligible spending during that phase.

A Final Report also must be filed by each LRO with its Local Board.

The Local Board then compiles all the Final Reports within its jurisdiction and submits them (along with any requested documentation) to the National Board.

Failure of an LRO to file a Final Report will result in its award being held in escrow the succeeding year.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards (or receive property, or a combination of both, within the fiscal year) will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular A-133. These audits are due to the cognizant Federal agency, submitted through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse, not later than 9 months after the end of the grantees fiscal year.

Records

Boards are required to remain in operation until all program and audit requirements of the National Board have been satisfied. Grant records shall be retained for a period of 3 years from the day the recipient submits its final expenditure report. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, or other action involving the records has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records must be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later. Grant records include financial and program/progress reports, support documents, statistical records, and other documents that support the activity and/or expenditure of the recipient or sub-recipient under the award.

Financial Information

Account Identification

70-0707-0-1-605.

Obigations

(Grants) FY 07 $151,470,000; FY 08 est $153,000,135; and FY 09 est $100,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Refer to program guidance.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

EFS National Board Program, "Phase 25: Responsibilities and Requirements."

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Catalog Appendix IV for list of addresses for FEMA Regional Offices.

Headquarters Office

Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 500 C Street, S.W., Room 619, Washington, DC 20472. Telephone: (800) 621-FEMA (3363).

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not applicable.