NOTIFICATION OF EFSP PROGRAM STATUS (As of May 2026)

Greetings from the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) National Board.

Over the past 16 months, there has been little communication with program participants regarding the status of the program. This notification is to share that EFSP continues to operate and that the program was awarded funds in Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025, $117 million for each grant. For the FY2024 grant, awards were made to qualifying jurisdictions (counties and cities) and State Set-Aside (SSA) Committees and they have been posted on the EFSP website, www.efsp.unitedway.org, under FY2021/ARPAR/2022/2023/2024 Funding, then select Phase 42 (FY2024) Allocations.

In the recent Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026, EFSP was awarded $123.5 million. As you may know, during the partial Federal Government shutdown, funding to the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) were on hiatus, which impacted the EFSP. Since the end of the shutdown and passing of the DHS funding appropriation, FEMA has resumed their work on EFSP. As quickly as possible, the National Board will meet and decisions regarding allocations will be made so that funds can be awarded to Local Boards and SSA Committees expeditiously. Notice will be sent to all qualifying Local Boards and SSA Committees, and it will be posted on the EFSP website. It is important to note that implementing this year's grant will require significant changes to the EFSP program approvals and payment processes. We will communicate more about these adjustments in a separate message.

In the interim, EFSP staff continue to perform to ensure work of the program progresses. The following are a few of the activities staff focused on and reminders for Local Boards, State Set-Aside Committees and LROs:

• updating information on the EFSP website;
• Final Reports submissions; and,
• implementation of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), a new security requirement to access the EFSP website

Click here to download the pdf document and read more details on the above activities.

Please read the entire document carefully and as necessary, respond when EFSP sends subsequent notifications via email to Local Boards, SSA Committees, and Local Recipient Organizations (LROs). There will be instructions included in each of the notifications regarding requests and responses that may be necessary.

If you have any questions about this message, please contact EFSP staff at efsp@uww.unitedway.org or 703-706-9660.

Thank You,

Emergency Food and Shelter Program
701 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-2064
Tel: 703-706-9660
Fax: 703-706-9677

Final Reports for Phases 39, 40, 41 and ARPAR (Update as of July 10, 2026)

Due to ongoing updates of materials and processes for the four phases, the availability of the final reports for Phases 39, 40, 41 and ARPAR have been delayed from the original planned release in June 2026. We apologize for any inconvenience this delay may cause you. Please continue to reference the EFSP website for the availability of final reports and other program updates.

The Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) staff have been working on the materials and instruction for the Final Reports for Phases 39 (FY21), ARPA-R (FY21), 40 (FY22), and 41 (FY23). The Final Reports for all four phases are anticipated to be released in late August 2026. Additional guidance and instructions for Local Boards and Local Recipient Organizations (LROs) will be provided when the Final Reports become available on the EFSP website (https://www.efsp.unitedway.org/efsp/website/index.cfm).

To ensure that EFSP has the most accurate and up-to-date information for these Final Reports, the point of contact for each Local Board and State Set-Aside (SSA) Committee should log into the EFSP website as soon as possible using the 6-digit User ID and password to review and update the information related to spending period and reallocation requests. You can find the full message with instructions on EFSP website after logging in with the 6-digit Local Board ID, or you may click here to download the pdf document and read more details.

If you have any questions about this message, please contact EFSP staff at efsp@uww.unitedway.org or 703-706-9660.

Thank You,

Emergency Food and Shelter Program
701 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-2064
Tel: 703-706-9660
Fax: 703-706-9677

IMPORTANT NOTICE

New security protocols will be implemented on the EFSP website starting August 19, 2026.  In addition to your User ID and password, all EFSP users will also need to use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to access your EFSP website account.  We are implementing MFA to enhance security and protect user data.

To learn more about how to use MFA, you have several resources:

• Download the step-by-step instructions guide here
• View an instructional video here
• Join us for MFA Office Hours to answer questions or get help with the new security features.  To view MFA Office Hours available, please see the latest schedule here

Please familiarize yourself with MFA so that you can access the EFSP website and submit board plans, certification forms, final reports, required documentation, etc.  You will not be able to access the EFSP website starting August 19, 2026 without using MFA. 

Please use the resources listed above first and if you have additional questions or concerns, you can contact us at EFSP@uww.unitedway.org.  Thanks for your attention to this important change!   

EFSP is hosting a series of MFA Office Hours to answer questions or provide assistance in the use of Multi-Factor Authentication. 

As you may know, new security protocols will be implemented on the EFSP website starting August 19, 2026.  In addition to your User ID and password, all EFSP users will also need to use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to access your EFSP website account to submit board plans, certification forms, final reports, required documentation, etc.  We are implementing MFA to enhance security and protect user data. 

Starting on August 19, 2026, you will not be able to access the EFSP website without using MFA. 

Below is the current schedule of MFA Office Hours.  You don’t need to register, just click on the link below at the date and time listed. 

Before attending an Office Hour, please review the following resources:

• Download the step-by-step instructions guide here
• View an instructional video here

NOTE: We have a maximum limit of 1,000 attendees for each session.  If you’re unable to access the specific session, please try another office hour date and time. 

Thanks for your attention to this important change!   

MFA OFFICE HOURS SCHEDULE

Tue, Aug 11 at 2 p.m. EST

Wed, Aug 19 at 12 noon EST

Wed, Aug 26 at 11 a.m. EST

Thu, Sep 3 at 1 p.m. EST

Wed, Sept 16 at 3 p.m. EST

Wed, Sept 23 at 12 noon EST