In midst of brutal cold weather, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) will allocate a total of $4,243,584 for counties across Upstate New York for emergency assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP). EFSP funds can be used for a broad range of services, including mass shelter, mass feeding, food distribution through food pantries and food banks, one-month assistance with rent, mortgage and utility payments to prevent evictions, and transition assistance from shelters to stable living conditions.
“During these tough economic times, it is critical that we provide for our struggling families,” said Senator Schumer. “This program will give residents across Upstate New York access to shelter, food and housing assistance. During this winter season it is more important than ever to feed the hungry and house our most vulnerable families.”
“This is great news for children and families across New York,” Senator Gillibrand said. “These federal dollars will help deliver good meals and provide a roof over their head for families who desperately need it in these though economic times.”
The EFSP, which will commemorate its twenty-seventh year in fiscal year 2010, is administered by a National Board of voluntary agencies chaired by FEMA. The National Board qualifies local jurisdictions for annual EFSP awards based on criteria involving current population, unemployment, and poverty levels
EFSP funds were first authorized by Congress in 1983 and are appropriated annually under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. With the FY 2010 allocation, more than $3.6 billion in federal aid will have been disbursed through the EFSP since its inception.
EFSP funds can be used for a broad range of services, including mass shelter, mass feeding, food distribution through food pantries and food banks, one-month assistance with rent, mortgage and utility payments to prevent evictions, and transition assistance from shelters to stable living conditions. EFSP’s objectives are to allocate funds to the neediest areas; to ensure fast response; to foster public-private sector partnerships; to ensure local decision-making; and to maintain minimal but accountable reporting.
Funding will be allocated as follows:
Capital Region:
Albany County will receive $156,361
Fulton County will receive $39,179
Greene County will receive $29,789
Montgomery County will receive $34,862
Rensselaer County will receive $91,814
Schenectady County will receive $81,192
Schoharie County will receive $20,888
Central New York:
Cayuga County will receive $51,299
Cortland County will receive $33,023
Oneida County will receive $121,083
Onondaga County will receive $262,075
Oswego County will receive $87,942
Hudson Valley:
Dutchess County will receive $161,672
Orange County will receive $206,118
Rockland County will receive $155,367
Sullivan County will receive $46,285
Ulster County will receive $102,347
Westchester County will receive $507,802
North Country:
Clinton County will receive $55,750
Essex County will receive $25,398
Franklin County will receive $29,729
Herkimer County will receive $36,999
Jefferson County will receive $64,384
Lewis County will receive $16,986
St. Lawrence County will receive $72,706
Rochester Finger Lakes Area:
Monroe County will receive $433,093
Seneca County will receive $19,375
Yates County will receive $13,114
Southern Tier:
Allegany County will receive $30,916
Broome will receive $117,345
Chemung County will receive $54,459
Chenango County will receive $32,459
Delaware County will receive $28,409
Otsego County will receive $35,159
Schuyler County will receive $12,491
Steuben County will receive $66,164
Tompkins County will receive $46,493
Western New York:
Cattaraugus County will receive $53,703
Chautauqua County will receive $80,940
Erie County will receive $568,196
Niagara County will receive $160,218