IMPORTANT NOTICE: The federal government has placed a “temporary” hold on the release of EFSP funds. However, it is the responsibility of the Local EFSP Board to determine how funds will be allocated to be prepared to distribute them once they are released. As such, the announcement and re-posting of the recruitment is proceeding as required by the Department of Homeland Security.
INVITATION TO APPLY FOR FUNDS
EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM (EFSP)
THURSTON COUNTY/MASON COUNTY
Phase 42
The US Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency for Emergency Food and Shelter Program has awarded the following Federal funds of approximately:
$28,767 for Mason County and $128,963 for Thurston County.
Non-profit, faith-based, or governmental organizations that provide emergency food or shelter to Mason or Thurston residents are eligible to apply. The intent is to supplement and expand the current available resources for emergency food and shelter in Mason and Thurston County. Priority is based on the needs of the community.
Applications must be submitted by July 22nd, 2025, 5:00 pm with a copy of your 990 for review purposes only. NO additional information will be accepted after the closing date. NO late or incomplete applications will be accepted.
Apply at https://unitedwayofthurstoncounty.app.neoncrm.com/forms/efsp-form
Individuals having difficulty with the application or having questions about the application should contact Daniel Amodeo-Chavez at damodeo-chavez@unitedway-thurston.org or call 360-943-2773 ext. 111.
Organizations interested in applying for any of these funds should review the EFSP Manual on the website. If your organization has never applied for EFSP funds, we strongly suggest you contact Daniel Amodeo-Chavez or Cathy King for information, assistance and/or training.
Technical EFSP or general program questions, specific EFSP questions, rules, regulations and/or issues, please contact Cathy King, Coordinator, cking@unitedway-thurston.org or call at 360-943-2773 ext. 100.
Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP)
A little about EFSP...
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 40-year history, the EFSP will have distributed $6.158 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.
The original authorizing legislation (PL 100-77) specifically calls for "sensitivity to the transition from temporary shelter to permanent homes and attention to the specialized needs of homeless individuals with mental and physical disabilities and illness and to facilitate access for homeless individuals to other sources of services and benefits."
Also in accordance with the legislation, the National Board encourages Local Boards, the decision-making local bodies, to place special emphasis on identification of and assistance to the elderly, families with children, Native Americans and Veterans. In addition, the authorization as revised (PL 102-550) in 1992 requires that a homeless or formerly homeless person serve on the Local Boards.