(Washington, DC) Today, Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-3) announced $452,746 in federal funding from Emergency Food and Shelter (EFS) Program to fund support services for Louisville’s hungry and homeless.

“This will provide a major boost to the people in our community who need it most,” Congressman Yarmuth said.  “The funding will go help people get off the streets and back on their feet.”

“The emergency food and shelter program is a fantastic partnership between the federal government and local homeless service providers throughout the United States,” said Greg Hudleson, Community Coordinator at Metro United Way.  “It’s a tremendously efficient operation, and this funding will immediately benefit the most vulnerable citizens of our community.”

The EFS National Board, chaired by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and composed of representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; United Jewish Communities; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.; The Salvation Army; and United Way of America, provides supplemental funding to shelters, soup kitchens, and food banks.  One-month awards for rent, mortgage, and utility assistance are also available.  The funds are used to help individuals and families with non-disaster, temporary emergency needs.

In each funded jurisdiction, a Local Board advertises the availability of the funds, establishes local priorities, selects local non-profit and government agencies to receive supplemental funding, and monitors program compliance.  The Local Board’s composition mirrors the EFS Program National Board, with a local government official replacing FEMA and board members voting to select their chair.