Emergency Food and Shelter Program

The purpose of the Emergency Food and Shelter (EFSP) program is to supplement and expand the work of local social service agencies, both nonprofit and governmental, in an effort to assist people exp​eriencing severe economic crisis that is not the immediate result of a natural or man-made disaster situation.


EFSP is a Federal program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and has been entrusted through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 (PL 100-77) “to supplement and expand ongoing efforts to provide shelter, food and supportive services” for hungry and homeless people across the nation.

The program's objectives are:

• To allocate funds to the neediest areas
• To ensure fast response
• To foster public-private sector partnerships
• To ensure local decision-making
• To maintain minimal, but accountable, reporting

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EFSP National Board

A National Board, chaired by FEMA, with representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.; The Salvation Army; United Jewish Communities; and, United Way of America, governs the EFSP. United Way of America serves as Secretariat and fiscal agent to the National Board.

United Way Worldwide serves as the fiscal agent for the EFSP and its staff is housed in United Way Worldwide headquarters. For more information about the EFSP National Board please visit www.efsp.unitedway.org.

Emergency Food and Shelter Program 
National Board
United Way Worldwide
701 N. Fairfax Street, Suite 310
Alexandria, VA 22314-2064
Tel. 703.706.9660
Fax. 703.706.9677

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