LAFAYETTE - United Way of Acadiana is happy to announce that it has been able to administer federal funds in the amount of $377,593.00 through the Emergency Food & Shelter Program in Acadia, Lafayette, and Vermillion parishes. These Phase 37 and CARES funds will go directly toward utilities, rent, food, mortgage payments, and shelter through the ASSIST Agency, Catholic Charities of Acadiana, Faith House of Acadiana, and Second Harvest Food Bank. United Way of Acadiana looks forward to continue
connecting agencies to the funding that they need to deliver excellent, impactful work. The Emergency Food and Shelter Program was established on 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. Since 1983, in its 38- year history, 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. United Way of Acadiana is proud to administer the funds for Acadia Parish, as it has for several years,
but is especially excited to activate funding in Vermilion and Lafayette parishes, monies that have laid unclaimed for years. Elsa Dimitriadis, Director of Community Impact for United Way of Acadiana serves at the local EFSP board chair for all three parishes, and Nicole Phillips, Community Impact Manager, serves as the local board contact. The original authorizing legislation specifically calls for "sensitivity to the transition from temporary shelter to permanent homes and attention to the specialized needs of homeless individuals with mental and physical disabilities and illness and to facilitate access for homeless individuals to other sources of services and benefits." Also in accordance with the legislation, the National Board encourages local boards, the decision- making local
bodies, to place special emphasis on identification of and assistance to the elderly, families with children, Indigenous peoples
and veterans. In addition, the authorization, as revised in 1992, requires that a homeless or formerly homeless person serve on the
local boards.