350 Million US Dollars Awarded To Immigrants For Food and Shelter Support By Department of Homeland Security

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The Department of Homeland Security Awards $350 Million for Humanitarian Assistance Through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program

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The Department of Homeland Security has announced that it will issue a $350 million Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to assist local communities in managing the costs of noncitizen arrivals. This is the first significant allocation of funding for humanitarian assistance under the Omnibus funding approved in December.

President Joe Biden's budget builds on that progress by making historic investments in underserved communities and combating racial disparities across the country, such as in health, education, and economic opportunity.

The Bipartisan Year-End Omnibus, which President Biden signed on December 29, 2022, authorized the establishment of a new DHS grant program, the Shelter and Services Program (SSP), to assist these communities.

The Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP-H) will provide funding to localities and non-governmental organizations that assist screened and vetted noncitizens provisionally released from DHS custody pending the outcome of their immigration court proceedings.

The funding will be directed towards the humanitarian portion of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP-H) to help local communities better manage the costs of noncitizen arrivals in their communities. This program is part of a larger effort by the government to support communities that receive noncitizens who are in immigration enforcement proceedings.

The Omnibus directed CBP to transfer $800 million in funding to FEMA to establish the SSP and authorized the use of a portion of that funding for the existing EFSP-H until the SSP is established.

The EFSP program is governed by a National Board comprised of representatives from the American Red Cross, United Way Worldwide, and four religious charitable organizations. The board is chaired by a representative of FEMA. The National Board makes all final award determinations, and after it receives the funds, it will post the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 application guidance and begin accepting applications.

The Board, with support from FEMA, will host a series of webinars for potential applicants to explain how to apply, discuss any changes from the previous year’s application guidance, and provide answers about the application process.

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