ATLANTA — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security?s Federal Emergency Management Agency today announced that $2,126,353 has been awarded to Tennessee by the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP). Federal funds totaling $100 million were
made available to the EFSP, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), to bring immediate relief to communities to address unemployment, poverty and other needs in light of the economic climate faced by our country.

?DHS is hopeful that these funds will be used to help individuals and families meet some of their basic, non-disaster related needs. We believe that the EFSP has an extraordinary history of providing food and shelter for families over the past
twenty-six years,? said Secretary Napolitano, ?but an unprecedented need exists to provide this assistance to even more individuals. We are grateful a program like this exists for families struggling to make ends meet even after the paycheck runs out.?

Funds will be distributed to support social service agencies in more than 2,500 cities and counties across the country. EFSP grant funds are used to supplement food, shelter, rent, mortgage and utility assistance programs for people with
non-disaster related emergencies. The jurisdictions that are receiving funds are listed at the end of the release.

Additional jurisdictions in Tennessee may be selected at a later date by the EFSP State Set-Aside Committee. The EFSP National Board, chaired by the Department of
Homeland Security?s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and composed of representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; United Jewish Communities; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.; The Salvation
Army; and United Way of America, provides supplemental funding to shelters, soup kitchens, and food banks. One-month awards for rent, mortgage, and utility assistance are also available. The funds are used to help individuals and families with non-disaster, temporary emergency needs.

In each funded jurisdiction, a Local Board advertises the availability of the funds, establishes local priorities, selects local non-profit and government agencies to
receive supplemental funding, and monitors program compliance. The Local Board?s composition mirrors the EFSP National Board, with a local government official replacing FEMA and board members voting to select their chair.

The EFSP has been in existence since 1983 and was authorized under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987. With the ARRA funding, more than $3.404 billion in federal aid will have been disbursed through the EFSP since its inception to communities nationwide, and has accounted for millions of additional meals and nights of shelter to the hungry and homeless most in need across the nation.

A state-by-state list of the eligible jurisdictions and award amounts is available at www.efsp.unitedway.org .

FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
FY 2009 ?? State Allocations

Giles County
$11,852
Lawrence County
$17,742
Lewis County
$6,046
Wayne County
$7,161

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