State gets federal funds to prevent homelessness

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency recently announced that federal funds of nearly $19 million have been awarded to California to help prevent homelessness, and feed and shelter the hungry and homeless.

FEMA director David Paulison said more than $151 million funding was made available by Congress for the National Board of the Emergency Food and Shelter program to support social service agencies in more than 2,500 cities and counties across the country. EFS grant funds are used to supplement food, shelter, rent, mortgage and utility assistance programs for people with nondisaster-related emergencies.

Los Angeles City/County received $4,226,171 in funds and Ventura County was awarded $403,638.

The EFS program, entering its 25th year, is administered by a national board of voluntary agencies chaired by FEMA. Member agencies of the national board include American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, The Salvation Army, United Jewish Communities and United Way of America.

The current allocated funds are estimated to provide more than 35 million meals and 1.3 million nights of lodging. The monies will also be used to provide 98,719 rent and mortgage payments and 231,292 utility bills to those in the most desperate need of assistance.

A statebystate list of the eligible jurisdictions and award amounts is available at the website www.efsp.unitedway.org.