Emergency Food & Shelter Program
The Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) was created to supplement and expand the work of local social service agencies, both governmental and nonprofit, in an effort to help people with economic emergencies. EFSP funds must be used to supplement feeding, sheltering (including transitional sheltering), rent/mortgage and utility assistance efforts only.
Why it matters
The most basic need for all people is food and nutrition. As more families are faced with dwindling resources, they often do not have enough money to purchase the food they need. In many cases, these families also need other support.
What we've done
The EFSP program is governed by a national board, and each area is also governed by a local board charged with distributing funds to address the highest need. United Way for Southeastern Michigan chairs the local board and administers the EFSP in the City of Detroit and Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.
Our 2011 advocacy efforts more than doubled the impact of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program; serving 2.3 million meals, by securing an additional $1.8 million in ARRA dollars.
Our future goals
2018
- Reduce hunger by 50% in our target communities by connecting our region's organizations, individuals and families with the information and resources needed to increase access to quality nutritional food.