Application deadline midnight Monday, February 28
The Emergency Food and Shelter Program National Board has awarded Berkshire County $62,726 in Phase 39 (FY20) and $193,871 in Phase ARPAR (FY21) Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) assistance funding.
Qualified organizations located throughout Berkshire County can obtain and submit an application for supplemental emergency food and shelter through Northern Berkshire United Way, the local administrator of the program.
Local organizations chosen to receive funds must be private voluntary nonprofits (with a voluntary board) or units of government; have an accounting system; practice non-discrimination; and have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs. Applicants must submit their application, by email only, with their financial audit by midnight on Monday, February 28 to: Christa Collier at ccollier@nbunitedway.org. Paper applications will not be accepted.
The funds are awarded through the Department of Homeland Security and the award is made by the Emergency Food and Shelter Program National Board, that consists of representatives from the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, The Jewish Federations of North America, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, and United Way Worldwide. Funds pass directly from the Department of Homeland Security to the EFSP program and then to local agencies. A local subcommittee made up of representatives of organizations that are not requesting or receiving funds will determine the actual organizations that receive funding.
For Phase 38, EFSP awarded $67,202, which local representatives distributed to 10 Berkshire County organizations: Berkshire Community Action Council, the Berkshire Food Project, the Cheshire Pantry, Child Care of the Berkshires, Elizabeth Freeman Center, Louison House, Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative, Salvation Army North Adams, Salvation Army Pittsfield, and ServiceNet.