The Knox County Commissioners and United Way of Knox County Ohio, Inc partner in leading the Emergency Food and Shelter Program in Knox County, which supports the community in allocating Federal funds to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.
Knox County has been awarded Federal funds to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county. This award is considered Phase 38 fiscal year (FY2020) funding and is awarded to Knox County in the amount of $23,991. Phase 38 will run almost concurrently with previously awarded Phases 37 and CARES Act funding. The Phase 38 spending-begin-date will be January 1, 2020.
The EFSP selection is announced in Phases made by a national board chaired by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency. The board consists of representatives from American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, The Jewish Federations of North America, The Salvation Army and United Way Worldwide. The local board is charged to distribute federally appropriated funds from Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country.
A local board determines how the funds awarded to Knox County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies. The local board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds available under this phase of the program.
Under the terms of the grant from the national board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, 2) be eligible to receive Federal funds, 3) have an accounting system, 4) practice nondiscrimination, 5) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and 6) if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply.
Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for funds may contact the Board of Knox County Commissioners, 117 E. High St., Suite 161, Mount Vernon, OH 43050 or download and print the application and instructions at this link. The deadline for applications to be received is 4 p.m., Wednesday, December 30, 2020.
For more information on the EFSP program, please contact United Way of Knox County Ohio, Inc. program director at elizabeth@uwayknox.org.