Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP)

A National Board, chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is responsible for overall policy development and implementation for EFSP. At both a national and local level, United Way's role is to staff the distribution of these funds in collaboration with the primary service providers: American Red Cross, Catholic Charities, National Council of Churches, United Jewish Communities, Salvation Army, and local governments.

In 2008, approximately $151 million appropriated by Congress was distributed nationwide to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs. A formula involving population, poverty, and unemployment is applied to determine the eligibility of local jurisdictions for EFSP funding.

United Way Fox Cities works with two local EFSP Boards to distribute funding to three counties, EFSP Board for Winnebago County and EFSP Board for Calumet and Outagamie Counties. For its administrative services, UWFC receives 2% of the federal funds awarded to the three counties.

In 2008, Winnebago County received $98,757, Outagamie County received $103,133, and Calumet County received $26,739. In 2008, UWFC assisted in the distribution of $228,629 throughout three counties.