DATE: January 7, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Jean M. Rousseau, County Administrative Officer
SUBJECT: Appointment to the Emergency Food and Shelter Program Board
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Appoint the Department of Social Services Director, or designee, to the Local Emergency Food and Shelter Program Board.
REPORT
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Appointments are at the discretion of the Board.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action.
DISCUSSION:
The National Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) was created by Congress in 1983 to supplement the work of local social service agencies, both non-profit and governmental, in assisting people in need of emergency assistance.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was chosen as the federal agency to house the new program, and a National Board was created to oversee its implementation. FEMA worked with United Way of America (now Worldwide) to become the fiscal agent and staff for the program. Each jurisdiction designated by the National Board to receive funds will constitute a Local Board. Local representatives of the National Board member agencies must be invited to serve on the Local Board. The National Board member agencies are FEMA, 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 highest-ranking county government official or his/her designee may replace the National Board's FEMA member.
Fresno County recently received information stating that the Local Board does not have a member from FEMA or an appointment from the County's highest-ranking elected official serving on the Local Board.
Local Board members inform the local proposal process; read and score applications; allocate funding; and monitor the use of funding throughout the program year. Time commitment is the length of the Phase, ...
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