LAFAYETTE, La — The United Way of Acadiana has administered over $375,000 in federal funds 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.
The Emergency Food and Shelter Program was established in 1983, with the signing of the "Jobs Stimulus Bill."
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, 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.
