Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSP)

Federal funds made available through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have been awarded to jurisdictions in the state of Nevada for the Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSP) for Phase 40. A direct award has been made to Lyon County which will exist as its own jurisdiction. All other Nevada counties (including Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Mineral, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine) may apply for funding under the State Set-Aside award. 

                                          Phase 40                                     

Lyon County             $19,477                              

State Set-Aside            $126,935                               

The selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by FEMA and consists of representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; The Jewish Federations of North America; The Salvation Army; and United Way Worldwide. The National Board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by the U.S. Congress in 2022 ($130 million for Phase 40) to help expand the capacity of food, shelter, and rent/utilities assistance programs in high-need areas around the country. The EFSP was created in 1983 to supplement and expand the work of local social service agencies, both nonprofit and governmental, in an effort to help people with economic (not disaster-related, i.e. fire, floods, tornadoes, etc.) emergencies. A Local Board in each jurisdiction will determine how the funds are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the area. The program is administered locally by United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra.

Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must:

1) be a private voluntary nonprofit, a faith-based organization, or a governmental organization

2) be eligible to receive Federal Funds

3) have an accounting system and be prepared to submit required documentation

4) practice nondiscrimination

5) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs through an existing program

6) if they are a private voluntary organization, have a voluntary board

Past EFSP participation is not a requirement. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply. Eligible agencies serving Lyon County can access the application and instructions online at uwnns.org/EFSP beginning February 13, 2023. For questions or technical assistance, contact Kelly Stevens at communityimpact@uwnns.org or (775) 322-8668. All applications for all counties must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. INCOMPLETE, LATE, OR FAXED APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Applications are due Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at 5:00 PM.

Following are the links to the application instructions and forms to apply. Read application instructions first for detailed requirements for a complete application. Please note, a complete application is necessary for each jurisdiction your organization serves and is applying for funding. Organizations will not be allowed to use one application for multiple jurisdictions. 

1. Application Instructions

Application Instructions for Phase 40: Please read before applying! 

2. Main Application

Primary Application 

3. Forms by Category: A separate category form must be submitted for every jurisdiction in which you are applying for funding.

Served Meals

Lyon County: Served Meals

Other Food

Lyon County: Other Food

Mass Shelter

Lyon County: Mass Shelter 

Other Shelter

Lyon County: Other Shelter

Rent/Mortgage Assistance

Lyon County: Rent/Mortgage Assistance

Utilities Assistance

Lyon County: Utilities Assistance

4. Summary Budget: Required for all applications. A separate Summary Budget worksheet is required for EACH existing program you apply for. 

Summary Budget Template

For technical assistance, please email the UWNNS Community Impact Team at communityimpact@uwnns.org. Please include your telephone number if you would like to be called back to discuss a question rather than receive an email. 

Applications are due Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at 5:00 PM.

Following are the links to the application instructions and forms to apply. Read application instructions first for detailed requirements for a complete application. Please note, a complete application is necessary for each jurisdiction your organization serves and is applying for funding. Organizations will not be allowed to use one application for multiple jurisdictions. 

1. Application Instructions

Application Instructions for Phase 40: Please read before applying! 

2. Main Application

Primary Application 

3. Forms by Category: A separate category form must be submitted for every jurisdiction in which you are applying for funding.

Served Meals

Washoe County: Served Meals

Other Food

Washoe County: Other Food

Mass Shelter

Washoe County: Mass Shelter

Other Shelter

Washoe County: Other Shelter

Rent/Mortgage Assistance

Washoe County: Rent/Mortgage Assistance

Utilities Assistance

Washoe County: Utilities Assistance

4. Summary Budget: Required for all applications. A separate Summary Budget worksheet is required for EACH existing program you apply for. 

Summary Budget Template

For technical assistance, please email the UWNNS Community Impact Team at communityimpact@uwnns.org. Please include your telephone number if you would like to be called back to discuss a question rather than receive an email. 

Applications are due Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at 5:00 PM.

Following are the links to the application instructions and forms to apply. Read application instructions first for detailed requirements for a complete application. Please note, a complete application is necessary for each jurisdiction your organization serves and is applying for funding. Organizations will not be allowed to use one application for multiple jurisdictions. 

1. Application Instructions

Application Instructions for Phase 40: Please read before applying! 

2. Main Application

Primary Application 

3. Forms by Category: A separate category form must be submitted for every jurisdiction in which you are applying for funding.

Served Meals

East Slope & North Rural: Served Meals

Other Food

East Slope & North Rural: Other Food

Mass Shelter

East Slope & North Rural: Mass Shelter

Other Shelter

East Slope & North Rural: Other Shelter

Rent/Mortgage Assistance

East Slope & North Rural: Rent/Mortgage Assistance

Utilities Assistance

East Slope & North Rural: Utilities Assistance

4. Summary Budget: Required for all applications. A separate Summary Budget worksheet is required for EACH existing program you apply for. 

Summary Budget Template

For technical assistance, please email the UWNNS Community Impact Team at communityimpact@uwnns.org. Please include your telephone number if you would like to be called back to discuss a question rather than receive an email. 

Organizations and agencies interested in applying for EFSP funding must:

• Be a non-profit or public agency; 

• Have a voluntary Board, if a private non-profit agency; 

• Have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and shelter programs and have a currently funded (non-EFSP) program for which they can receive supplemental funding from EFSP; funds may not be used to establish a new program;

• Have a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) and a federal DUNS number. 

• Have an accounting system;

• Be eligible to receive and able to manage federal funds;

• Practice non-discrimination and not require religious services or payment for the receipt of services; 

• Not charge clients for EFSP services; 

• Not require an individual to attend counseling activities as a condition of assistance; 

• Not conduct lobbying activities using EFSP funds; 

• Not act as a vendor for itself or other EFSP-funded agency, except for shared maintenance fees for food banks; and

• Be prepared to adhere to all requirements and guidance provided by both the National EFSP and the Local Board.

If you are an individual seeking assistance, do not apply for EFSP funding through UWNNS. Instead, you should contact Nevada 2-1-1 or directly contact the local agencies who receive an award from the EFSP Local Boards for guidance. Funds may already be exhausted depending on when you contact the local agencies. Once all funds have been awarded and Local Board plans have been approved by the National EFSP Board, the current awards will be posted on the UWNNS website under “Current Funding Awards.”

The Emergency Food and Shelter Program was established in March 24, 1983, with the signing of the “Jobs Stimulus Bill,’ Public Law 98-8. That legislation created a National Board, chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that consisted of representatives of the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, The Jewish Federations of North America, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, The Salvation Army, and United Way Worldwide.

The EFSP was authorized under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (P.L. 100-77 signed into law on July 24, 1987, since renamed the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and subsequently reauthorized under P.L. 100-628, signed into law on November 7, 1988). Since 1983, the EFSP will have distributed $5.03 billion to over 14,000 human service agencies in more than 2,500 communities across the country through this collaborative effort between the private and public sectors.

The National Board, described above, is charged with distributing the funds appropriated by the U.S. Congress to identified jurisdictions throughout the nation. The National Board’s formula for awarding funds is based upon average unemployment statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics for the most current 12-month period available and poverty statistics from the U.S. Bureau of the Census. Poverty and unemployment were selected as the best indicators of need available nationwide at the city or county level. Funds are awarded for defined spending periods known as phases.

Phase 38 – Awards Allocated Per Jurisdiction/County

Spending Period: January 1, 2020 – October 31, 2021

Washoe County:

Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows - $10,000.00 for Other Food (Food Pantry)

Domestic Violence Resource Center - $7,000.00 for Other Shelter                             

Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada - $30,000.00 for Served Meals

The Children’s Cabinet - $2,500.00 for Other Food (Food Pantry)

The Children’s Cabinet - $16,667.00 for Rent/Mortgage Assistance           

City of Reno - $45,000.00 for Mass Shelter                                           

Community Food Pantry - $2,500.00 for Other Food (Food Pantry)            

Community Services Agency - $2,500.00 for Other Food (Food Pantry)    

Community Services Agency - $8,333.00 for Rent/Mortgage Assistance  

Food Bank of Northern Nevada - $20,393.00 for Other Food                                        

Safe Embrace - $2,000.00 for Mass Shelter                                          

Safe Embrace - $5,000.00 for Other Shelter                                         

St. Francis of Assisi Food Pantry - $2,500.00 for Other Food (Food Pantry)             

The Salvation Army - $20,000.00 for Rent/Mortgage Assistance 

Washoe County Human Services Agency - $15,480.00 for Mass Shelter                                   

Washoe County Human Services Agency - $21,769.00 for Other Shelter                                  

Lyon County:

Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows - $4,215.00 for Other Food (Food Pantry)

Food Bank of Northern Nevada - $8,000.00 for Other Food (Food Pantry)              

Healthy Communities Coalition - $8,216.00 for Other Food (Food Pantry)              

Northern Nevada Dream Center - $1,500.00 for Other Food (Food Pantry)             

Carson City:

Advocates to End Domestic Violence - $8,250.00 for Mass Shelter                                             

Friends In Service Helping (FISH) - $5,000.00 for Served Meals                                    

Friends In Service Helping (FISH) - $2,261.00 for Other Food (Food Pantry)            

Food Bank of Northern Nevada - $5,000.00 for Other Food (Food Pantry)              

Northern Nevada Dream Center - $3,000.00 for Other Food (Food Pantry)             

Douglas County:

Carson Valley Community Food Closet - $1,222.00 for Other Food (Food Pantry)

Friends In Service Helping (FISH) - $16,475.00 for Other Food (Food Pantry)         

Northern Nevada Dream Center - $3,198.00 for Other Food (Food Pantry)             

State Set Aside Committee (funding for counties that do not rise to the level of their own jurisdiction):

North Rural (Includes all other rural counties):

Elko Committee Against Domestic Violence - $1,608.00 for Mass Shelter                                

Northern Nevada Food Bank - $8,500.00 for Other Food (Food Pantry)   

Intertribal Council of Nevada - $6,458.00 for Other Food (Food Pantry)   

Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows - $2,708.00 for Served Meals                                       

Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows - $6,000.00 for Other Food (Food Pantry)