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
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
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
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
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