The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced that $250,000 has been awarded to South Dakota by the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) under Phase 37 of this program and an additional $297,533 has been awarded under the CARES Act. These are two separate awards that are running concurrently with each other to help supplement food, shelter, rent, mortgage, and utility assistance programs for people struggling with non-disaster related emergencies.
Funding will be allocated to Local Recipient Organizations (LRO’s) for each award by the State Set-Aside Committee using a formula based on current unemployment, food insecurity and poverty data from the entire state. The Local Boards of each LRO will then determine how those funds will be distributed to qualified agencies in the counties that they oversee.
Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must: 1) be non-profit 2) have accounting capabilities 3) practice non-discrimination 4) demonstrate ability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter services 5) convene a voluntary board (if a private entity).
Agencies interested in applying for funding can contact Matt Gassen, the State Set-Aside Committee Chair, at (605) 335-0364 for information on where to apply for funding. Current participating LRO’s are not required to re-apply for funding during this phase but should notify the State Set-Aside committee if they are considering changing their status as an LRO.
EXTENDED Deadline for applications is no later than C.O.B. July 28, 2020.