United Way of Will County has been awarded federal funds made available by the DHS/FEMA under the Emergency Food & Shelter National Board Program

Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSP) funds in the amounts of $361,728 for Phase 38 to the United Way of Will County jurisdiction to supplement already existing emergency food and shelter programs. The funds are made available through the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency and open to non-profit organizations and public agencies. In the last phase of funding (Phase 37 & Phase CARES), United Way of Will County was awarded $689,196 to seven agencies selected by an independent, volunteer Review Panel.

A Local Board is charged with distributing these funds to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas within the county. Funding will be provided in the following priority areas: mass shelter, other shelter, served meals, other foods (ie: food pantries), rent/mortgage assistance, and utility assistance.

Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must:

1. be private non-profits or agencies of government,
2. eligible to receive Federal funds,
3. have an accounting system,
4. practice non-discrimination,
5. have existing emergency food and/or shelter programs,
6. if a private organization, must have a voluntary board, and
7. submit an online application by the deadline.