Since 1990, The Emergency Food & Shelter Program has provided more than $4 million in federal funding in support of local agencies that offer programs meeting basic human needs (food, shelter, etc.) in the Hartford region. In 2001, the United States Congress awarded $140 million to EFSP, from which the United Way of the Capital Area received $316,951 to allocate among 31 towns in the Hartford region. EFSP is administered by United Way of America on the national level and by the United Way of the Capital Area, through a local board, in Hartford County. Over $2 billion has been disbursed nationally in the program's 19-year history. 

Local EFSP funding is based on unemployment, income and population. The local board allocates 63% of its awards to shelters, 25% to Foodshare, Inc. and 12% to municipalities. Local recipient organizations are the recipients of EFSP funding and are nonprofit organizations or government entities who provide eligible on-going services. Examples of eligible services include:

• one month’s rent or mortgage
• one month’s utility bill
• food purchased from foodbank or grocery store
• per diem allowance for night of lodging

The local EFSP board is responsible for assessing the food and shelter needs in the community, making funding decisions, reporting to the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program on the use of funding, developing an application and appeals process, advertising funding availability, and monitoring the program. 

For more information on EFSP, please contact: 

Mary Falotico, EFSP Board Chair, Hartford County
(860) 493-6833 or email to mfalotico@uwcact.org

Michele Ryan, Community Services Associate
(860) 493-6831 or email to mryan@uwcact.org