Emergency Food & Shelter

Expanding the work of social service agencies to help people with economic emergencies
Since 1983, United Way of Will County has administered the local distribution for the Federal Emergency Food & Shelter Grant.

The Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) was established on March 24, 1983, with the signing of the “Jobs Stimulus Bill,” Public Law 98-8. That legislation created a National Board, chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that consisted of representatives of the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, The Jewish Federations of North America, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, The Salvation Army and United Way Worldwide.

“The purpose was to supplement and expand the work of local social service agencies, both nonprofit and governmental, in an effort to help people with economic emergencies (not disaster related). Therefore, EFSP funds are not to be used to provide emergency assistance for circumstances that are the immediate result of a disaster situation.”

Local Emergency Food and Shelter Board Members:

Loren Yaksich
United Way of Will County Community Engagement Manager, Chairman of the Board

Kristi Harrington
United Way of Will County Finance Director, Signer

View all Board Members

J.D. Ross

Anitarice Schmidt
Illinois Department of Human Services

Cornelia Malone
Joliet Township

Cpt. Dan Faundez
Salvation Army

Glenn Van Cura
Catholic Charities

Harold Damron
Will County Emergency Management Agency

Honorable Larry Walsh, Jr.
Illinois State Representative

Jennifer Dylik
Troy Township

Ken Cozzi
American Red Cross

Kris White
Will Co. Center for Community Concerns

Laurie McPhillips-Weglarz
Coldwell Banker Residential

Michele Batara
Crisis Line of Will County

Officer Adam Schreiner
Lockport Police Department

Rabbi Charles Rubovits
Joliet Jewish Congregation

Rev. Herb Brooks
St. John’s Missionary Baptist

Rev. Sherry Scates
Plainfield United Methodist Church

Ron O’Connor
Will County Regional Office of Education

This Federal Grant is based upon local need, and the amount each community receives is set by the National Emergency Food & Shelter Board.

Locally Distributed: $9,832,092 or $9.8M
Total awarded in Will County alone to local organizations in order to supplement shelters for the homeless and provide rent, food, and utility assistance.

$1,342,007 Awarded Locally in the 1980s
Phase – Fiscal Year – Award Amount

1 – 1983 – 178,477
2 – 1984 – 138,959
3 – 1985 – 164,902
4 – 1986 – 178,626
5 – 1987 – 201,734
6 – 1988 – 212,427
7 – 1989 – 266,882

Total Amount Awarded: $1,342,007

$2,095,559 Awarded Locally in the 1990s
Phase – Fiscal Year – Award Amount

8 – 1990 – 250,392
9 – 1991 – 249,178
10 – 1992 – 270,877
11 – 1993 – 255,936
12 – 1994 – 232,938
13 – 1995 – 201,289
14 – 1996 – 155,679
15 – 1997 – 154,261
16 – 1998 – 162,197
17 – 1999 – 162,812

Total Amount Awarded: $2,095,559

$3,586,479 Awarded Locally in the 2000s
Phase – Fiscal Year – Award Amount

18 – 2000 – 180,991
19 – 2001 – 253,680
20 – 2002 – 285,799
21 – 2003 – 313,406
22 – 2004 – 340,196
23 – 2005 – 370,342
24 – 2006 – 361,384
25 – 2007 – 334,258
26 – 2008 – 352,100
27 – 2009 – 794,323

Total Amount Awarded: $3,586,479

$3,537,094 Awarded Locally in the 2010s

Phase – Fiscal Year – Amount Award

28 – 2010 – 513,944
29 – 2011 – 354,855
30 – 2012 – 362,261
31 – 2013 – 360,678
32 – 2014 – 444,538
33 – 2015/16 – 373,569
34 – 2017 – 398,202
35 – 2018 – 364,633
36 – 2019 – 364,624

Total Amount Awarded: $3,537,094

$1,051,925 Awarded Locally in the 2020s

Phase – Fiscal Year – Amount Award

37 – 2020 – 258,122
CARES – 2020 – 405,075
38 – 2021 – 361,728

Total Amount Awarded: $1,051,925