FEMA Announces $388,450 In Homeless Aid Awards For Alaska
Release Date: December 11, 2003
Release Number: R10-04-50
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that federal funds totaling $388,450 have been made available for Alaska to help feed and shelter the state’s hungry and homeless people in 2004.
Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, said the funding is part of the $153 million authorized by Congress for the Emergency Food and Shelter (EFS) Program to support social service agencies in more than 2,500 cities and counties across the country. EFS funds are used to supplement food, shelter, rent, mortgage and utility assistance programs for people with non-disaster related emergencies.
“On behalf of President Bush, I’m honored to extend the federal government’s helping hand to our nation’s most needy people,” Brown said. “The dedicated members of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program again have successfully carried out this worthy mission. Homeland Security and FEMA are pleased that Congress has provided the necessary means to help our communities feed the hungry, assist the poor and shelter the homeless in the coming year.”
The EFS Program, entering its twenty-first year, is administered by a national board of volunteer agencies chaired by FEMA. The national board qualifies jurisdictions for annual EFS funding awards based on criteria involving current population, unemployment and poverty levels. Grants are awarded to community and government organizations that are chosen by local boards in the qualifying jurisdictions.
In addition to direct funding awards, eight percent of the total EFS appropriation for 2004 has been set aside by the national board for state grants to aid the needy in non-qualifying jurisdictions.
EFS funds were first authorized by Congress in 1983 and are currently appropriated annually under the Stewart B. McKinney-Bruce F. Vento Homeless Assistance Act. With the 2004 allocation, more than $2.49 billion in federal aid will have been disbursed through the EFS Program since its inception.
Member agencies of the national board include the American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; United Jewish Communities; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; Salvation Army; and United Way of America.
A list of the eligible Alaska jurisdictions and award amounts is available at www.efsp.unitedway.org
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Thursday, 11-Dec-2003 08:09:05