The National Board Fiscal Year 1997 Plan for Carrying Out the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP)

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

The National Board Fiscal Year 1997 Plan for Carrying Out the

Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP)

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice sets out the plan by which the Emergency Food and

Shelter Program National Board (National Board) is conducting a program

during FY 1997 to distribute $100,000,000 to private voluntary

organizations and local governments for delivering emergency food and

shelter to needy individuals. The distribution formula for selecting

organizations and localities, and the award amount for each, follow the

Plan text.

DATES: The award to the National Board was made October 3, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Coleman, Preparedness, Training

and Exercise Directorate, Federal Emergency Management Agency, (202)

646-3107, or Kay C. Goss, Chair, EFSP National Board, (202) 646-3487.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title III of the Stewart B. McKinney

Homeless Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 11301 et seq., authorizes use of

funds appropriated by the Congress to supplement and expand ongoing

efforts to provide shelter, food, and supportive services to homeless,

needy individuals.

As in past phases, grant awards from this program are provided to

address emergency needs. This program is not intended to address or

correct structural poverty or long-standing problems. Rather, this

appropriation is intended for the purchase of food and shelter to

supplement and expand current available resources and not to substitute

or reimburse ongoing programs and services.

This funding should be used to target special emergency needs. And

when we discuss emergency needs we are referring to economic, not

disaster-related, emergencies. The funding should supplement feeding

and sheltering efforts in ways that make a difference. What that means

is: EFSP is not intended to make up for budget shortfalls or to be

considered just a line in an annual budget; it is not intended that the

funds must go to the same agencies for the exact same purposes every

year; and, the funding is open to all organizations helping hungry and

homeless people and it is not intended that the funds should go only to

Local Board member agencies or local government agencies.

[[Page 15483]]

Having stated what it is not, what does the National Board want

this program to be? As we read the law, EFSP should: create inclusive

local coalitions that meet regularly to determine the best use of funds

and to monitor their use in their respective communities; treat every

program year as a fresh opportunity to reassess what particular

community needs (e.g., on-site feeding or utility assistance, mass

shelter or homelessness prevention, etc.) should be addressed;

encourage agencies to work together to emphasize their respective

strengths, work out common problems, and prevent duplication of effort;

and, examine whether the program is helping to meet the needs of

special populations such as minorities, Native Americans, veterans,

families with children, the elderly, and the handicapped.

It is our intention to re-emphasize that this program has a

commitment to emergency services. We continue to view it as an

opportunity for building a cohesive emergency structure which can, for

example, coordinate the assistance provided, across agencies, to

families and individuals applying for rental, mortgage, or utility

assistance; enhance a food banking network that is economical in its

cost and broad in its coverage; reinforce creative cooperation among

feeding and sheltering sites to ensure help for street populations most

in need; and, establish or maintain a system that complements rather

than supplants existing private and governmental efforts to provide

rent, mortgage, or utility assistance.

The National Board is aware that much is asked of our voluntary

Local Boards and LROs, and very little administrative funding is

provided. But the cooperative model that EFSP has helped to create can

be a useful vehicle for many governmental and community-based programs.

As a group, local providers can accomplish much: initiating a dialogue

with local offices of Federal entities such as the U.S. Department of

Agriculture to take full advantage of excess commodities and its other

programs or with the U.S. Department of Labor's Job Training

Partnership Act (JTPA); working with Federal programs that require the

input of local providers such as the Department of Housing and Urban

Development's Community Development Block Grant or Emergency Shelter

Grant and the Department of Health and Human Services' Health Care for

the Homeless; pooling agency efforts to gain Federal (for example,

HUD's Transitional Housing Program) and private foundation grants;

leveraging EFSP funds within the community by encouraging matches of

local EFSP allocations from State and local governments and private

resources; and, exchanging ideas on administrative and accounting

methods that can improve delivery of services and focus on the

collaborative rather than the competitive aspects of agency relations.

Fourteen years ago this program began as a one-time effort to help

address urgent needs. The survival of this public-private partnership

is not only a testament to needs, but also to the effectiveness of EFSP

as an example of local decision-making and community responsibility in

attempting to meet those needs.

EFSP is a reminder of this nation's willingness to confront

difficult problems within the society in new ways. But most

importantly, EFSP has fed and sheltered homeless and hungry people, it

has maintained homes and the families in those homes, and it has

created useful public-private partnerships within communities.

Table of Contents

1.0 Background and Introduction

1.1 Purpose

2.0 FEMA's Role and Responsibilities

3.0 National Board's Role and Responsibilities

3.1 Client eligibility

4.0 State Set-Aside Committee's Role and Responsibilities

5.0 Local Boards' Role and Responsibilities

5.1 Variances and Waivers

6.0 Local Recipient Organizations' Role and Responsibilities

6.1 Independent Annual Audit Requirements

6.2 Fiscal Agents/Conduit Relationship

6.3 Financial Terms and Conditions

6.4 Grant Payment Process

6.5 Eligibility of Costs

6.6 Required Documentation

7.0 Local Appeals Process

8.0 Allocations Formula

9.0 Amendments to Plan

1.0 Background and Introduction

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 FEMA, which

consisted of representatives of the American Red Cross; Catholic

Charities, USA; the Salvation Army; Council of Jewish Federations,

Inc.; United Way of America; and the National Council of Churches of

Christ in the U.S.A.

Since that first piece of legislation in 1983, through its

authorization under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act

(Pub.L. 100-77--signed into law on July 24, 1987, subsequently

reauthorized under Pub.L. 100-628, signed into law on November 7,

1988), the Emergency Food and Shelter Program has distributed $1.5

billion to over 11,000 social service agencies in more than 2,500

communities across the country.

From its inception, the unique features of this program have been

the partnerships it has established. At the national level, the Federal

government and board member organizations have the legal responsibility

to work together to set allocations criteria and establish program

guidelines. Such coalitions, as set forth in the law, are even more

vital on the local level. In each community Local Boards make the most

significant decisions on their own make-up and operation, the types of

services most in need of supplemental help, what organizations should

be funded and for what purpose and amount. These portions of the law

have remained unchanged and are the core of this unique public-private

partnership.

1.1 Purpose

This publication is developed by the National Board to outline the

roles, responsibilities, and implementation procedures which shall be

followed by the National Board, FEMA Local Boards, LROs, SSA

Committees, in the distribution and use of these funds.

National in scope, EFSP will provide food and shelter assistance to

individuals in need through local private voluntary organizations and

local governments in areas designated by the National Board as being in

highest need. The intent of EFSP is to meet emergency needs by

supplementing and expanding food and shelter assistance individuals

might currently be receiving, as well as to help those who are

receiving no assistance. Individuals who received assistance under

previous programs may again be recipients, providing they meet local

eligibility requirements.

2.0 FEMA's Role and Responsibilities

(a) FEMA will perform the following EFSP activities:

(1) Constitute a National Board consisting of individuals

affiliated with United Way of America; the Salvation Army; the National

Council of Churches of Christ in the USA; Catholic Charities, USA; the

Council of Jewish Federations, Inc.; the American Red Cross; and FEMA.

(2) Chair the National Board, using parliamentary procedures and

consensus by the National Board as the mode of operation.

(3) Provide policy guidance, management oversight, Federal

[[Page 15484]]

coordination, and staff assistance to the National Board.

(4) Award the grant to the National Board.

(5) Assist the Secretariat in implementing the National Board

Program.

(6) Report to Congress on the year's program activities through the

Interagency Council on the Homeless Annual Report.

(7) Conduct audits of the program.

(8) Initiate Federal collection procedures to collect funds or

documentation due when the efforts of the National Board have not been

successful.

3.0 National Board's Role and Responsibilities

(a) The National Board will perform the following EFSP activities:

(1) Select jurisdictions of highest need for food and shelter

assistance and determine amount to be distributed to each.

(2) Notify national organizations interested in emergency food and

shelter to publicize the availability of funds.

(3) Develop the operational manual for distributing funds and

establish criteria for expenditure of funds.

(4) In jurisdictions that received previous awards, notify the

former Local Board chair that new funds are available. In areas newly

selected for funding, notify the local United Way, American Red Cross,

Salvation Army, or local government official. The National Board will

notify qualifying jurisdictions of award eligibility within 60 days

following allocation by FEMA.

(5) Provide copies of award notification materials to National

Board member affiliates and other interested parties.

(6) Secure board plan, certification forms and board rosters from

Local Boards. Ensure Local Board compliance with established

guidelines.

(7) Distribute funds to selected LROs.

(8) Hear appeals and grant waivers.

(9) Establish an equitable system to accomplish the reallocation of

unclaimed or unused funds. Unused or recaptured funds will be

reallocated by the National Board, except in the case of State Set-

Aside counties whose funds may be reallocated by the respective State

Set-Aside Committees.

(10) Ensure that funds are properly accounted for, and that funds

due are collected.

(11) Provide consultation and technical assistance to local

jurisdictions as necessary to monitor program compliance.

(12) Compile the reports it receives from the Local Boards and

submit a detailed accounting of use of all program monies in the form

of a report to FEMA.

(13) Conduct a compliance review of food and shelter expenditures

made under this program for specified LROs. The National Board, FEMA,

the independent accounting firm selected by the National Board, or the

Inspector General's office may also conduct an audit of these funds.

(14) Monitor LRO compliance with OMB Circular A-133.

The United Way of America will act as the National Board's

Secretariat and fiscal agent and perform necessary administrative

duties for the Board. An administrative allowance of one percent of the

total award may be used for National Board administration.

3.1 Client Eligibility

The National Board does not set client eligibility criteria. Local

Boards may choose to set such criteria. If the Local Board does not set

eligibility criteria, the LRO may use its existing criteria or set

criteria for assistance under this award. However, the LROs criteria

must provide for assistance to needy individuals without discrimination

(age, race, sex, religion, national origin, or handicap).

Funds allocated to a jurisdiction are intended for use within that

jurisdiction. Residents of or transients in a specific jurisdiction

should seek service within that jurisdiction.

Citizenship is not an eligibility requirement to receive assistance

from EFSP. The National Board does not mandate nor recommend the use of

any particular existing criteria (i.e., food stamp guidelines, welfare

guidelines, or income guidelines).

4.0 State Set-Aside (SSA) Committee Role and Responsibilities

(a) SSA Committee's role.

(1) The SSA process has been adopted to allow greater flexibility

in selection of jurisdictions and is intended to target pockets of

homelessness or poverty in non-qualifying jurisdictions (refer to

Supplementary Information, above, on qualifying criteria), areas

experiencing drastic economic changes such as plant closings, areas

with high levels of unemployment or poverty which do not meet the

minimum level of unemployment, or jurisdictions that have documented

measures of need which are not adequately reflected in unemployment and

poverty data.

(2) The distribution of funds to SSA Committees will be based on a

ratio calculated as follows: the State's average number of unemployed

in non-funded jurisdictions divided by the average number of unemployed

in non-funded jurisdictions nationwide equals the State's percentage of

the total amount available for SSA awards.

(b) SSA responsibilities.

(1) A SSA Committee in each State will recommend high-need

jurisdictions and award amounts to the National Board. Priority

consideration is to be given to jurisdictions otherwise not meeting

criteria for funding, although funded jurisdictions may receive

additional funding. SSA Committees should also consider the special

circumstances of jurisdictions that qualified in previous funding

phases but are not eligible in the current phase. The State Committees

may wish to provide these jurisdictions with an allocation so that the

abrupt change in funding status is not disruptive to local providers.

SSA Committees are encouraged to consider current and significant State

or local data in their deliberations. Although the National Board staff

provides national data to the SSA Committees, it does not mandate any

particular formula. These committees are free to act independently in

choosing eligible jurisdictions.

In each State, the chair of the previous phase's SSA Committee will

be notified of the award amount available to the SSA Committee. In a

State where there are affiliates of the voluntary organizations

represented on the National Board, they must be invited to serve on the

State Committee. If no single State affiliate exists, an appropriate

representative should be invited. The Governor or his/her

representative will replace the FEMA member. State Committees are

encouraged to expand participation by inviting or notifying other

private non-profit organizations on the State level. The National Board

encourages the inclusion of Native Americans, minorities, and other

appropriate representatives on the State Committee.

(2) Members of the SSA Committee shall elect a person to chair the

committee.

(3) The SSA Committees are responsible for the following:

(i) recommending high-need jurisdictions and award amounts within

the State. When selecting jurisdictions with demonstrated need, the

National Board encourages the consideration of counties incorporating

or adjoining Indian reservations. The SSA Committee has 25 working days

to notify the National Board in writing of its selections and the

appropriate contact person for each area.

Note: The minimum award amount for a single jurisdiction is

$1,000 and only whole-dollar amounts can be allocated.

[[Page 15485]]

(ii) Notifying the National Board of selection criteria that were

used to determine which jurisdictions within the State were selected to

receive funds. The National Board will then notify these jurisdictions

directly. In the event funds are not claimed by the SSA jurisdictions,

SSA Committees may recommend other jurisdictions to receive the

unclaimed funds.

(4) An administrative allowance of one-half of one percent (5) of

the total SSA award to each State may be used for SSA administration.

5.0 Local Boards' Role and Responsibilities

(a) Local Boards' Role and Responsibilities.

(1) Each area designated by the National Board to receive funds

shall constitute a Local Board. In a local community where there are

affiliates of the United Way of America; The Salvation Army; the

National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.; Catholic

Charities, U.S.A; Council of Jewish Federations; and the American Red

Cross; which are represented on the National Board, they must be

invited to serve on the Local Board. An agency's own governing board

may not serve as a Local Board. The National Board mandates that if a

jurisdiction is located within or encompasses a federally recognized

Indian reservation, a Native American representative must be invited to

serve on the Local Board. All Local Boards are required to include in

their membership a homeless or formerly homeless person. Local Boards

should seek recommendations from LROs for an appropriate

representative. Local Boards that are unable to have homeless or

formerly homeless representation must still consult with homeless or

formerly homeless individuals, or former or current clients of food or

housing services for their input. The County Executive/Mayor,

appropriate head of local government or his or her designee will

replace the FEMA member. Local Boards are encouraged to expand

participation and membership by inviting or notifying minority

populations, other private non-profit organizations and government

organizations; the jurisdiction should be geographically represented as

well.

(2) The members of each Local Board will elect a chair.

(3) Local Board membership is not honorary; there are specific

duties the board must perform. If a member cannot regularly attend

meetings, the member should be replaced by another representative of

the member's designated agency. If a member must be absent from a

meeting, the member's organization may designate an alternate.

(4) If a locality has not previously received funding and is now

designated as being in high need, the National Board has designated the

local United Way to constitute and convene a Local Board as described

above. If there is no local United Way, or it does not convene the

board, the local American Red Cross, the local Salvation Army, or a

local government official will be responsible for convening the initial

meeting of the Local Board.

(5) If a locality has previously received National Board funding,

the former chairman of the Local Board will be contacted regarding any

new funding the locality is designated to receive.

(6) Each award phase is new; therefore, the Local Board is a new

entity in every phase. The convener of the Local Board must ask each

agency to designate or redesignate a representative every program year.

(7) The National Board requires Local Boards to select one of the

following options for meetings:

(i) Quarterly Meetings: Local Boards are encouraged to meet

quarterly to ensure LROs are implementing the program according to

guidelines. Meetings may be conducted via conference calls.

(ii) Semiannual Meetings: Local Boards meeting twice a year must

also ensure that LROs are implementing the program according to

guidelines. Ongoing monitoring activities must take place. Local Boards

electing to hold meetings semiannually will be required to submit

copies of their meeting minutes with the jurisdiction's final report.

(8) A majority of members must be present for the meeting to be

official. Attendance and decision-making minutes must be kept. Meeting

minutes must be approved by the Local Board at the next meeting. They

must also be available to the National Board, Federal authorities, and

the public on request.

(9) The Local Board will have 25 working days after the

notification of the award selection by the National Board in which to

advertise and promote the program to give any organization capable of

providing emergency services an opportunity to apply for funds.

Advertising must take place prior to the Local Board's allocation of

funds. Failure to advertise properly will delay processing of the

jurisdiction's board plan and subsequent payment of funds. Local Boards

should allow at least one week for interested organizations to apply

for funding. (Local Boards are not required to re-advertise fund

availability for supplemental allocations within the same spending

period.

(10) The Local Board recommends which local organizations should

receive grants and the amounts of the grants. Local Boards must have a

written application process and consider all private voluntary and

public organization applicants. In selecting LROs to receive funds, the

Local Board must consider the demonstrated ability of an organization

to provide food and/or shelter assistance. Local Board members should

strive to use consistent criteria, sound judgment and fairness in their

approach. Local Board membership must have no relationship to funding.

Local Board members must abstain from voting on their own grant awards.

LROs should be selected to receive funds to supplement and extend

eligible on-going services, not be funded in anticipation of a needed

service (i.e., fire victims, floods, tornadoes, etc.); neither should

agencies be selected for funding due to budget shortfalls nor for cuts

in other funding sources.

LROs that received awards from previous legislation may again be

eligible provided that the LRO still meets eligibility requirements.

Agencies on Indian reservations are eligible to receive EFSP monies, if

they meet LRO requirements.

The minimum grant per LRO is $300 and only whole-dollar amounts may

be allocated. The Local Board should be prepared to justify an

allocation of one-third (1/3) or more of its total award to a single

LRO.

(11) Local Boards are responsible for monitoring LROs that receive

over $100,000 in Federal funds and ensuring that they comply with OMB

Circular A-133.

(12) Local Boards must complete and return all required forms to

the National Board. (Local Board Plan, Local Board Certification Form,

and Local Board Roster).

(13) Local Boards shall secure and retain signed forms from each

LRO certifying that program guidelines have been read and understood,

and that the LROs will comply with cost eligibility and reporting

requirements.

(14) Local Boards must establish a system to ensure that no

duplication of service occurs within the expenditure categories of

rent, mortgage or utility assistance (RMU). Local Boards are free to

establish any system as long as no duplication of rent/mortgage or

utility assistance can take place under reasonable circumstances.

(15) Establish client eligibility, at Local Board's discretion.

Local Boards may determine client eligibility for EFSP or utilize

established LRO

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eligibility. A separate needs test for assistance under EFSP may be

developed and used by LROs, but should first be approved by the Local

Board. The Local Board should communicate eligibility criteria for

assistance under EFSP to LROs.

(16) Local Boards must notify the National Board of changes in the

Local Board chair, staff contact, or LRO contacts, including complete

addresses and phone numbers.

(17) Local Boards that determine they can better utilize their

resources by merging with neighboring boards may do so. The head of

government or his or her designee for each jurisdiction must sit on the

merged board, along with agency representatives from each jurisdiction.

The merged Local Board must ensure that the award amount designated for

each civil jurisdiction is used to provide assistance to individuals

within that jurisdiction.

(18) Local Boards are required to be familiar with current

guidelines and to provide technical assistance to service providers.

Advice and counsel can be provided by National Board staff.

(19) An appeals process must be established to address

participation or funding, to hear and resolve appeals made by funded or

non-funded organizations, and to investigate complaints made by

individuals or organizations. Appeals should be handled promptly. Cases

that cannot be handled locally should be referred in writing to the

National Board and include details on action that has been taken. Only

when there is significant question of misapplication of guidelines,

fraud, or other abuse on the part of the Local Board will the National

Board consider action. Cases involving fraud or other misuse of Federal

funds should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General, FEMA,

in writing or by telephone at 1-800-323-8603.

(20) The chair of the Local Board or his or her designated staff

will be the central coordination point of contact between the National

Board and the LRO selected to receive assistance from EFSP.

(21) If requested by the National Board, the Local Board should

nominate an appropriate feeding organization to receive surplus food

from Department of Defense commissaries.

(22) Boards will be responsible for monitoring programs carried out

by the LROs they have selected to receive funds. Local Boards should

work with LROs to ensure that funds are being used to meet immediate

food and shelter needs on an ongoing basis. Local Boards may not alter

or change National Board cost eligibility or approve expenditures

outside the National Board's criteria without National Board

permission. An interim report of expenditures is due to the National

Board with each LRO's second check request. A final report (accompanied

by financial documentation for specified LROs) is due 45 days after the

end of each jurisdiction's program. The National Board will provide

forms for all required reports. Local Boards may request other reports

from their LROs at an appropriate time (e.g., monthly or quarterly

updates).

(23) The Local Board should reallocate funds whenever it determines

that the original allocation plan does not reflect the actual need for

services or if an LRO is unable to use its full award effectively.

Funds must be recovered and may be reallocated if an LRO makes

ineligible expenditures or uses funds for items that have clearly not

been approved by the Local Board. Funds held in escrow for LROs which

have unresolved compliance problems can be reallocated or may be

reclaimed by the National Board. The deadline to reallocate any funds

held in escrow is July 31, 1997.

The Local Board may approve reallocation of funds between LROs that

are already participating in the program. However, the National Board

must be notified in writing. The Local Board may also return funds to

the National Board for reissuance to another LRO or request

reallocation of remaining funds before they are released by the

National Board (e.g., second/third payments).

If the Local Board wishes to reallocate funds to an agency that was

not approved on the original board plan, a written request for approval

must be made to the National Board. An LRO must be approved by the

National Board prior to receipt of funds.

Local Boards can reallocate funds from one service to another

(e.g., from food to shelter) without National Board approval if the

transfer is within an individual LRO.

If a Local Board is unable to satisfy the National Board that it

can utilize funds in accordance with this plan, the National Board may

reallocate the funds to other jurisdictions.

(24) Should anyone have reason to suspect that EFSP funds are being

used for purposes contrary to the law and guidelines governing the

program, the National Board recommends taking action to assist in

bringing such practices to a halt.

The National Board requires that the Office of the Inspector

General, FEMA, be contacted immediately when fraud, theft, or other

criminal activity is suspected in connection with the use of EFSP

funds, or the operation of a facility receiving EFSP funds. This

notification can be made by calling the Inspector General's Hotline at

1-800-323-8603, or in writing to: Office of the Inspector General,

FEMA, 500 C Street S.W., Washington, DC 20472. The complainant should

include as much information as possible to support the allegation and

preferably furnish his/her name and telephone number so that the

special agent assigned to that office may make a follow-up contact. The

confidentiality of any communication made with the Office of Inspector

General is protected by Federal law.

A complainant desiring to remain totally anonymous should make a

follow-up phone call to the Office of the Inspector General within 30

days from the date of the original complaint so that any follow-up

questions may be asked. Follow-up calls should be made to 1-202-646-

3894 during normal business hours, Eastern Standard Time (charges may

be reversed). The caller should advise that he/she is making a follow-

up call regarding a prior anonymous complaint. The Office of the

Inspector General, FEMA, will appropriately notify both local law

enforcement authorities and the National Board concerning the substance

of the allegations and the results of the investigation.

(25) Reports to the National Board on LROs' expenditures shall be

submitted as of the date each LROs second/third check is requested and

a final report should be submitted within 45 days after the

jurisdiction's end-of-program date.

(26) After the close of the program, the accuracy of all LROs'

reports and documentation shall be reviewed. Documentation for

specified LROs should be forwarded to the National Board as requested.

In the event expenditures violate the eligible costs under this award,

the Local Board must require reimbursement to the National Board.

Local Boards are required to remain in operation until all program

and compliance requirements of the National Board have been satisfied.

All records related to the program must be retained for three (3) years

from the end-of-program date.

(27) Each jurisdiction will be granted the option to extend its

spending period by 30, 60, or 90 days. This option will be offered

during the summer of each phase. The extension applies to the entire

jurisdiction. Should the jurisdiction receive a grant in the next

phase, that phase's spending period will begin the day after the chosen

end-date.

[[Page 15487]]

5.1 Variances and Waivers

(a) Variances. Local Boards may receive requests for variances in

the budgets they have approved for LROs. Local Boards may allow such

changes provided that the requested items are eligible under this

program. If there is any doubt on the part of the Local Board as to

eligibility, it should contact the National Board for clarification.

If an expenditure requested by an LRO falls outside the program

guidelines, the Local Board, if in accord, should request in writing a

waiver from the National Board in advance of the expenditure.

(b) Waivers. Waivers requested because of a compliance exception

must be submitted to the Local and then National Board for review.

National Board staff will evaluate waiver requests and use discretion

to approve or deny requests. In general, the National Board considers

waiver requests that are not within the guidelines, but address the

program's intent.

The waiver request from the Local Board should clearly state the

need for this exception, approximate costs, timelines or any other

pertinent information it deems necessary for the National Board to make

their decision.

6.0 Local Recipient Organizations' Roles and Responsibilities

(a) Local Recipient Organizations' roles and responsibilities.

(1) In selecting LROs to receive funds, the Local Board must

consider the demonstrated ability of an organization to provide food

and shelter assistance. LROs should be selected to receive funds to

supplement and extend eligible ongoing services, not to be funded in

anticipation of a needed service (i.e., fire, flood, or tornado

victims); neither should agencies be selected for funding due to budget

shortfalls nor for cuts in other funding sources. Local participation

in the program is not limited to organizations that are part of any

State or national organization. Agencies on Indian reservations are

eligible to receive EFSP funds if they meet LRO requirements as set

forth in the program manual. Organizations that received awards from

previous legislation may again be eligible provided that the

organization still meets eligibility requirements.

(2) For a local organization to be eligible for funding it must:

(i) Be nonprofit or an agency of government;

(ii) Have an accounting system or an approved fiscal agent;

(iii) Have a Federal employer identification number (FEIN), or be

in the process of securing FEIN (Note: contact local IRS office for

more information on securing FEIN and the necessary form [SS-4];

(iv) Conduct an independent annual audit if receiving $25,000 or

more from EFSP;

(v) Practice nondiscrimination (those agencies with a religious

affiliation wishing to participate in the program must agree not to

refuse services to an applicant based on religion or require attendance

at religious services as a condition of assistance, nor will such

groups engage in any religious proselytizing in any program receiving

EFSP funds); and,

(vi) For private voluntary organizations, have a voluntary board.

Each LRO will be responsible for certifying in writing to the Local

Board that it has read and agrees to abide by the cost eligibility and

reporting standards of this publication and any other requirements made

by the Local Board.

An LRO may not operate as a vendor for itself or other LROs except

for the shared maintenance fee for food banks.

(3) LROs selected for funding must:

(i) Maintain records according to the guidelines set forth in the

manual. Consult the Local Board chair/staff on matters requiring

interpretation or clarification prior to incurring an expense or

entering into a contract. It is important to have a thorough

understanding of these guidelines to avoid ineligible expenditures and

consequent repayment of funds. LROs' questions can be answered by

National Board staff at (703) 706-9660.

(ii) Provide services within the intent of the program. Funds are

to be used to supplement and extend food and shelter services, not as a

substitute for other program funds. LROs should take the most cost-

effective approach in buying or leasing eligible items/services, and

should limit purchases to essential items within the $300 limit for

equipment, unless prior approval has been granted by the National

Board.

(iii) Deposit funds for this program in a federally insured bank

account. Proper documentation must be maintained for all expenditures

under this program according to the guidelines. Agencies should ensure

that selected banks will return canceled checks. LROs' expenditures and

documentation will be subject to review for program compliance by the

Local Board, National Board or Federal authorities. Records must be

maintained for three years and any interest income must be put back

into program expenditures.

6.1 Independent Annual Audit Requirements

(a) LROs receiving $25,000 or less in EFSP funding. No independent

annual audit will be required for these LROs.

(b) LROs receiving $25,000 or more in EFSP funding. An independent

annual audit in accordance with Government Auditing Standards will be

required for these LROs.

The National Board will accept an LROs national/regional annual

audit if the following conditions are met:

(1) The LRO is truly a subsidiary of the national organization

(i.e., shares a single Federal tax exemption).

(2) The LRO is audited by the national/regional office internal

auditors or other person designated by the national/regional office AND

the national/regional office is audited by an independent certified

public accountant or public accounting firm, which includes the parent

organization's review of the LRO in a larger audit review.

(3) A copy of the local audit review by the parent organization

along with a copy of the independent audit of the national/regional

office will be made available to the National Board upon request.

In addition to the above requirements, any LRO receiving $100,000

or more in combined federal funds must have an audit made in accordance

with OMB Circulars A-128 or A-133, as applicable.

Audits of units of government shall be made annually unless State

or local government had, by January 1, 1987, a constitutional or

statutory requirement for less frequent audits. For those governments'

biennial audits, covering both years are permitted.

6.2 Fiscal Agent/Fiscal Conduit Relationship

(a) For National Board purposes, a fiscal agent is an agency that

maintains all EFSP financial records for another agency. A fiscal

conduit is an EFSP-funded agency that maintains all EFSP financial

records on behalf of one or more agencies under a single grant. If any

one agency in a jurisdiction is making bulk purchases for other

agencies not funded directly, it must serve as a fiscal conduit and

follow all rules, thereof.

(b) The fiscal agent/fiscal conduit is the organization responsible

for the receipt of funds, disbursement of funds to vendors, and

documentation of funds received. The fiscal agent/fiscal conduit must

meet all of the requirements of an LRO.

(c) Local Boards may wish to use a fiscal agent/fiscal conduit when

they

[[Page 15488]]

desire to fund an agency that does not have an adequate accounting

system nor conducts an annual audit, but nevertheless meets all other

criteria. The Local Board may authorize funds to be channeled through

another agency which has been designated as the fiscal agent/conduit.

Fiscal agents/conduits will be held accountable for compliance with

program requirements.

(d) Any agency benefitting from funds received by a fiscal agent/

fiscal conduit must meet all of the criteria to be an LRO except the

accounting system and annual audit requirements and sign the Fiscal

Agent/Fiscal Conduit Relationship Certification Form. For tracking

purposes, all agencies funded through fiscal agents or fiscal conduits

must secure a Federal Employer's Identification Number.

(e) Fiscal agents/fiscal conduits may cut checks to vendors only.

They may not cut checks to the agencies on whose behalf they are acting

or to agencies/sites under their ``umbrella.'' The exception to this is

when an agency is using the per diem allowance for mass shelters or the

per meal allowance for served meals.

(f) Fiscal agents will be required to submit individual interim and

final reports for each agency. Fiscal conduits will file a single

interim report on their awards along with a breakdown of agencies and

spending with the final report.

(g) Any LRO with an outstanding compliance exception may not be

funded under a fiscal agent/fiscal conduit. If a fiscal agent has an

unresolved compliance exception, any other funds awarded to the fiscal

agent (either as a grant for its own program or as fiscal agent for

another agency) will be held in escrow until all compliance exceptions

are resolved. Fiscal conduits will be audited as a single award, and

will be handled as any other LRO.

6.3 Financial Terms and Conditions

(a) Definitions.

``Local Recipient Organization'' refers to the local private or

public organizations that will receive any award of funds from the

National Board.

``Award'' refers to the award of funds made by the National Board

to a local private or public organization on the recommendation of a

Local Board.

``End-of-program date'' refers to the date, as agreed upon by Local

and National Board, by which all monies in a given jurisdiction must be

spent or returned.

(b) Amendments.

An award may be amended at any time by a written modification.

Amendments that reflect the rights and obligations of either party

shall be executed by both the National Board and the LRO.

Administrative amendments such as changes in accounting data may be

issued unilaterally by the National Board.

(c) Local Board Authority Related to LROs.

(1) The Local Board is responsible for monitoring expenditures of

LROs providing food and/or shelter services, authorizing the adjustment

of funds between food and shelter programs, and reallocating funds from

one LRO to another.

(2) Local Boards may not alter or change National Board cost

eligibility or approve expenditures outside the National Board's

criteria without National Board permission. (Refer to Section 3.1 on

Variances and Waivers.)

(3) A Local Board can call back funds from an LRO and reallocate to

another LRO in the case of gross negligence, inadequate use of funds,

failure to use funds, failure to use funds for purposes intended, or

for any other violation of the National Board guidelines, or in cases

of critical need in the community. The Local Board must advise, in

writing, all concerned LROs of any reallocation of their original

award.

(4) In the event the Local Board discovers ineligible expenditures

by an LRO, the Local Board must send to the organization a written

request for reimbursement of the amount. The National Board must also

be notified. If the LRO is unwilling or unable to reimburse the

National Board for the ineligible expenditures, the Local Board must

refer the matter to the National Board. The National Board may ask the

Local Board to take further action to see that reimbursement of

ineligible expenditures is made to the National Board, or the National

Board may refer the matter to FEMA.

If the Local Board suspects that fraud has been committed by an

LRO, the Local Board must contact the Office of the Inspector General,

FEMA, in writing or by telephone at 1-800-323-8603 with details of

suspected fraud or misuse of Federal funds.

(5) If an LRO received an award under previous phases, it must not

include those funds in any reporting for the present awards. Reports

should be confined to the amount granted by the National Board under

the new appropriations legislation.

(d) Cash Depositories.

(1) Any money advanced to the LRO under the terms of this award

must be deposited in a bank with Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

(FDIC) or Federal Savings & Loan Insurance Corporation (FSLIC)

insurance coverage (whose responsibility has been taken over by FDIC),

and the balance exceeding the FDIC or FSLIC coverage must be

collaterally secured. Interest income earned on these monies must be

put back into program costs.

(2) LROs are encouraged to use minority banks (a bank which is

owned at least 50 percent by minority group members). This is

consistent with the national goal of expanding the opportunities for

minority business enterprises. A list of minority-owned banks can be

obtained from the Office of Minority Business Enterprises, Department

of Commerce, Washington, DC 20203.

(e) Retention and Custodial Requirements for Records.

(1) Financial records, supporting documentation, statistical

records, and all other records pertinent to the award shall be retained

for a period of three years, with the following exceptions:

(i) If any litigation, claim or audit is started before the

expiration of the three-year period, the records shall be retained

until all litigation, claims or audit findings involving the records

have been resolved.

(ii) Records for nonexpendable property, if any, acquired in part

with Federal funds shall be retained for three years after submission

of a final report. Nonexpendable property is defined as tangible

property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition

cost of more than $300 per unit.

(2) The retention period starts from the date of the submission by

the LRO of the final expenditure report.

(3) The National Board may request transfer of certain records to

its custody from the LRO when it determines that the records possess

long-term retention value. The LRO shall make such transfers as

requested.

(4) The Director of FEMA, the Comptroller General of the United

States, and the National Board, or any of their duly authorized

representatives, shall have access to any pertinent books, documents,

papers, and records of the recipient organization, and its subgrantees

to make audits, examinations, excerpts and transcripts.

(f) Financial management systems.

(1) The LRO/fiscal agent or fiscal conduit shall maintain a

financial management system that provides for the following:

(i) Accurate, current and complete disclosures of the financial

results of this program.

(ii) Records that identify adequately the source and application of

funds for federally supported activities. These records shall contain

information pertaining to Federal awards,

[[Page 15489]]

authorizations, obligations, unobligated balances, assets, outlays, and

incomes.

(iii) Effective control over and accountability for all funds,

property, and other assets.

(iv) Procedures for determining eligibility of costs in accordance

with the provisions of the EFSP manual.

(v) Accounting records that are supported by source documentation.

The LRO must maintain and retain a register of cash receipts and

disbursements and original supporting documentation such as purchase

orders, invoices, canceled checks, and whatever other documentation is

necessary to support its costs under the program.

(vi) A systematic method to ensure timely and appropriate

resolution of audit findings and recommendations.

(vii) In cases where more than one civil jurisdiction (e.g., a city

and a balance of county, or several counties) recommends awards to the

same LRO, the organization can combine these funds in a single account.

However, separate program records for each civil jurisdiction award

must be kept.

(h) Payment.

A first payment shall be made to the LRO by the Secretariat upon

recommendation of the Local Board and approval by the National Board.

Second check requests include an interim report to be completed by each

LRO. The request is signed by the Local Board Chair, and mailed to the

National Board. Second/third installments will be held until the

jurisdiction's final Local Board report and documentation for the

previous year has been reviewed and found to be clear.

(i) Financial reporting requirements.

LROs shall submit a financial status report to the Local Board

which will be forwarded to the National Board 45 days after the

jurisdiction's program ending date.

The National Board shall provide the LRO, through the Local Board,

with the necessary report forms well in advance of report deadlines.

(j) Closeout procedures.

(1) The following definitions shall apply to closeout procedures:

``Close-out'' is the process by which the National Board determines

that all applicable administrative actions and all required work of the

award have been completed.

``Disallowed costs'' are those charges that the National Board

determined to be unallowable in accordance with the legislation,

National Board requirements, applicable Federal cost principles, or

other conditions contained in the award. The applicable cost principles

for Private Voluntary Organizations are contained in OMB Circular A-

122, ``Cost Principles Applicable for Non-Profit Agencies,'' and OMB

Circular A-110, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and

Other Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and

Other Non-Profit Organizations.'' The applicable cost principles for

Public Organizations are contained in OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost

Principles for State Agencies and Units of Local Governments.'' If you

are unsure of where to find these circulars, check with your local

Congressional Representative.

(k) Suspension and Termination Procedures.

(1) The following definitions shall apply:

(i) ``Termination'' of the award means the cancellation of Federal

assistance, in whole or in part, under the award at any time prior to

the date of completion.

(ii) ``Suspension'' of the award is an action by the Local Board or

National Board that temporarily suspends Federal assistance under the

award pending corrective action by the LRO or pending a decision by the

National Board to terminate the award.

(iii) ``Local Board Authority'' is authority to suspend/reallocate

all or a portion of an LRO's award at its discretion for any cause

(i.e., inability to deliver services, suspected fraud, violation of

eligible costs, changing need in the community, etc.).

(l) Lobbying.

(1) Public Law 101-121, Section 319, states that an LRO shall not

use Federally appropriated grant funds for lobbying activities. This

condition bars the use of Federal money for political activities, but

does not in any way restrict lobbying or political activities paid for

with non-Federal funds. This condition prohibits the use of Federal

grant funds for the following activities:

(i) Federal, State or local electioneering and support of such

entities as campaign organizations and political action committees;

(ii) Direct lobbying of the Congress and State legislatures to

influence legislation;

(iii) Grassroots lobbying concerning either Federal or State

legislation;

(iv) Lobbying of the Executive branch in connection with decisions

to sign or veto enrolled legislation; and,

(v) Efforts to utilize State or local officials to lobby the

Congressional or State Legislatures.

(2) Any LRO that will receive more than $100,000 in EFSP funds is

required to submit the following prior to grant payment:

(i) A certification form that EFSP funds will not be used for

lobbying activities; and,

(ii) A disclosure of lobbying activities (if applicable). This

certification and disclosure must be submitted prior to grant payment.

6.4 Grant Payment Process

United Way of America has been designated as the fiscal agent for

the National Board and as such will process all Local Board plans.

Payments will be made to organizations recommended by Local Boards for

funding.

The National Board offers two methods of payment to LROs: direct

deposit (electronic funds transfer) or checks. The National Board

encourages LROs to take advantage of direct deposit where possible.

All awards totaling less than $100,000 will be paid in two equal

installments. Awards totaling $100,000 or more will be paid in two

equal installments upon submission of lobbying certification and

disclosure.

The National Board will distribute second payments once the

jurisdiction's compliance review is completed for the previous program

period. Second payments will be held in escrow until all compliance

exceptions are satisfied by the LRO. The deadline to request all second

payments under Phase XV is July 31, 1997. Therefore, for those LROs

ineligible to receive their second checks due to unresolved compliance

exceptions, Local Boards must reallocate their escrowed awards by July

31, 1997.

All payments will be mailed directly to the LRO. Second payments

will be mailed to the LRO only upon the written request of the Local

Board Chair along with the LRO's interim report. The Local Board will

authorize second payments once they are assured that the organization

is implementing the current program as intended and according to these

guidelines.

6.5 Eligibility of Costs

The intent of this appropriation is for the purchase of food and

shelter to supplement and extend current available resources and not to

substitute or reimburse ongoing programs and services. Questions

regarding interpretation of the program's guidelines should be cleared

by the LRO with the Local Board prior to action. Local Boards unsure of

the meaning of these guidelines should contact the National Board at

(703) 706-9660 for clarification prior to advising the LRO. If an

expenditure requested by an LRO is not listed below as eligible, the

Local Board has the option of requesting a

[[Page 15490]]

waiver from the National Board for consideration.

No individual or family may be charged a fee for service with

relation to assistance under EFSP.

(a) Eligible Program Costs.

Eligible program costs include, but are not limited to:

For food banks/pantries, eligible costs include:

(1) Groceries, food vouchers, vegetable seeds, gift certificates

for food. Documentation required: receipts/invoices for food purchased

and canceled checks.

(2) An allowance for maintenance fees charged by food banks can be

granted by a Local Board at the prevailing rate. EFSP funds cannot be

used to pay such a maintenance fee twice: by a food bank and by the

food pantry/agency it is serving. Food banks may operate as both a

vendor and LRO. Documentation required: receipts/invoices for food

purchased and canceled checks.

(3) Transportation expenses related to the delivery of purchased

and donated food; limited to actual fuel costs. Documentation required:

(1) mileage log at the current Federal rate (30 cents per mile), with

departure, destination and trip purpose; or, (2) receipts/invoices from

contracted services or public transportation, receipts for actual fuel

costs; and canceled checks.

(4) Purchase of small equipment not exceeding $300 per item and

essential to operation of food bank or pantry (e.g., shelving, storage

containers). Documentation required: receipts/invoices for equipment

purchased and canceled checks.

(5) Purchase of consumable supplies essential to distribution of

food (e.g., bags, boxes). Documentation required: receipts/invoices for

supplies purchased and canceled checks.

For mass shelters (five or more beds) or mass feeding sites,

eligible expenditures include:

(6) Food (hot meals, groceries, food vouchers). Limited amounts of

dessert items (i.e., cookies, ice cream, candy, etc.) used as a part of

a daily diet plan may be purchased. Also allowable are vegetable seeds

and vegetable plants cultivated in an agency's garden on-site and

canning supplies. Documentation required: receipts/invoices for food

purchased and canceled checks or served meals per diem schedule).

(7) Local transportation expenses for picking up/delivery of food;

transporting clients to mass shelter or feeding site. Limited to actual

fuel costs, a mileage log at the current Federal rate (30 cents per

mile), contracted services or public transportation. Documentation

required: (1) mileage log, or (2) receipts/invoices from contracted

services or public transportation, receipts for actual fuel costs, and

canceled checks.

(8) Purchase of consumable supplies essential to mass feeding

(i.e., plastic cups, utensils, detergent, etc.) or mass shelters of

five or more beds (i.e., soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, cleaning

supplies, etc.) Documentation required: receipts/invoices for supplies

purchased and canceled checks.

(9) Purchase of small equipment not exceeding $300 per item and

essential to mass feeding (i.e., pots, pans, toasters, blenders, etc.)

or mass shelters (i.e., cots, blankets, linens, etc.). Documentation

required: receipts/invoices for equipment purchased and canceled

checks.

(10) Leasing, only for the program period, of capital equipment

associated with mass feeding or mass shelter (e.g., stoves, freezers,

or vans with costs over $300 per item) only if approved in advance by

the Local Board. Documentation required: written Local Board approval,

copy of lease agreement, and canceled checks.

(11) With prior Local Board approval, minor emergency repair of

small equipment essential to mass feeding or sheltering not exceeding

$300 in repair costs per item. Equipment eligible for repairs are any

that if not repaired would force the LRO to terminate or curtail

services (e.g. stove, refrigerator, hot water heater). Routine

maintenance and service contracts are not eligible expenses.

Documentation required: receipts or bills for equipment repair and

canceled checks.

(12) Limited amounts of basic first-aid supplies (e.g., aspirin,

band-aids, cough syrup) for mass shelter providers and mass feeding

sites only. Documentation required: receipts/invoices for first-aid

supplies and canceled checks.

(13) Emergency repairs/building code of a mass feeding facility or

mass shelter, provided:

(i) The facility is owned by a not-for-profit organization (profit-

making facilities, leased facilities, government facilities, and

individual residences are not eligible); and,

(ii) The emergency repair/building code plan and the contract

detailing work to be done and material and equipment to be used or

purchased is approved by the Local Board prior to the start of the

emergency repair/building code project; and,

(iii) The emergency repair/building code is limited to:

(A) Bring facility into compliance with local building codes; or,

(B) An emergency repair that is required to keep the facility open

for the current program phase.

(C) Maximum expenditure: $2,500.

(D) No award funds are used for decorative or non-essential

purposes or routine maintenance/repairs.

(E) All emergency repair work is completed and paid for by the end

of the jurisdiction's award phase. (Expenses which occur after that

date will not be accepted as eligible costs.) Documentation required:

letter from Local Board indicating approval and amount approved, copy

of contract including cost or invoices for supplies and contract labor,

document citing building code violation requiring the repair (for

building code repairs) and canceled checks.

(14) Expenses incurred from accessibility improvements for the

disabled are eligible for mass feeding or mass shelter facilities up to

a limit of $2,500. These improvements may include those required by the

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. A building code citation is

not necessary for accessibility improvements. Note: All social service

providers are mandated to comply with the Americans with Disabilities

Act of 1990. Documentation required: copy of contract describing work

to be done including cost, letter from Local Board indicating approval

and amount approved, and canceled checks.

For mass shelter providers, there are two options for eligible

costs. One option must be selected at the beginning of the program year

and continued throughout the entire year. Note the documentation

requirements for each option.

(15) Reimbursement of actual direct eligible costs; in which case

canceled checks and vendor invoices for supplies/equipment essential to

the operation of the mass shelter (e.g., cots, mattresses, soap,

linens, blankets, cleaning supplies, etc.) must be maintained.

Documentation required: receipts/invoices from vendor relating to

operation of facility and canceled checks.

(16) Per diem allowance of exactly $5 per person or exactly $10 per

person per night for mass shelter (five beds or more) providers, only

if:

(i) Approved in advance by the Local Board; and,

(ii) LROs total mass shelter award is expended in this manner.

Note: It is the decision of the Local Board to choose between

the $5/$10 rate. This rate may vary from agency to agency. The $5/

$10 per diem, if elected, may be expended by the LRO for any cost

related to the operation of the mass shelter; it is not limited to

otherwise eligible items. The per diem allowance does not include

the additional costs associated with food. Documentation required:

schedule

[[Page 15491]]

showing daily rate of $5 or $10 and number of persons sheltered by

date with totals. Supporting documentation must be retained on-site,

e.g., checks, invoices and service records.

For mass feeding programs, there are two options for eligible

costs. One option must be selected at the beginning of the program year

and continued throughout the entire year. Note the documentation

requirements for each option.

(17) Reimbursement of actual direct eligible costs; in which case

canceled checks and vendor invoices for supplies/equipment essential to

the operation of the mass feeding programs (e.g., food, paper products,

cleaning products, pots and pans, etc.) must be maintained.

Documentation required: receipts/invoices from vendor relating to

operation of facility and canceled checks.

(18) Per meal allowance of $1.50 per meal served only if:

(i) Approved in advance by the Local Board; and,

(ii) LRO's total mass feeding award is expended in this manner. The

$1.50 per meal allowance, if elected, may be expended by the LRO for

any related cost; it is not limited to otherwise eligible items. The

per meal allowance does not include the additional costs associated

with shelter. Documentation required: schedule showing meal rate of

$1.50 and number of meals served by date with totals. Supporting

documentation must be retained on-site, e.g., checks/invoices and

service records.

(19) For all agencies, eligible costs include the purchase of

diapers for distribution to individuals/families. Vouchers to grocery

stores may include diapers.

Note: Local Boards should use discretion in selecting LROs to

provide this service, taking into consideration the cost

effectiveness of bulk purchasing. Documentation required: receipts/

invoices for diapers purchased and canceled checks.

For rent/mortgage assistance, eligible program costs include:

(20) Limited emergency rent or mortgage assistance for individuals

or families, provided that:

(i) Payment is in arrears or due within 5 days; and,

(ii) All other resources have been exhausted; and,

(iii) The client is primary resident of the home in which rent/

mortgage is being paid and responsible for the rent/mortgage on the

home or apartment where the rent/mortgage assistance is to be paid;

(iv) Payment is limited to one month's cost for each individual or

family. Assistance can be provided for a full month's rent/mortgage all

at one time, or in separate payments over a period of up to 90

consecutive days so long as the total amount paid does not exceed one

month's costs;

(v) Assistance is provided only once in each award phase for each

individual or family; and,

(vi) Payment must guarantee an additional 30 days service.

Note: Late fees, legal fees, and deposits are ineligible.

Payments for trailers and lots are eligible and can be paid to a

mortgage company or to a private landlord. Documentation required:

letters from landlords (must include amount of one month's rent and

statement that rent is past due), mortgage letters and/or copy of

loan coupon showing mortgage amount and date due and canceled

checks.

(21) First month's rent may be paid when an individual or family:

(i) Is transient and plans to stay in the area for an extended

period of time; or,

(ii) Is moving from a temporary shelter to a more permanent living

arrangement; or,

(iii) Is being evicted because one month payment will not forestall

eviction.

The first month's rent cannot be provided in addition to emergency

rent/mortgage payment under Item 20 above. It can be provided in

addition to assistance provided for off-site and mass shelter.

Documentation required: letters from landlords [must include amount of

first month's rent] and canceled checks.

For utility assistance, eligible program costs include:

(22) Limited utility assistance (includes gas, coal, electricity,

oil, water, firewood) for individuals or families, provided that:

(i) Payment is in arrears; and,

(ii) All other resources have been exhausted (e.g., State's Low

Income Home Energy Assistance Program); and,

(iii) Payment is limited to one month's cost for each utility for

each individual or family; and,

(iv) Month paid is part of the arrearage and from current phase or

for continuous service; and,

(v) Each utility can be paid only once in each award phase for any

individual or family.

(vi) Payment must guarantee an additional 30 days service. Note:

Reconnect are eligible. Late fees and deposits are ineligible. Utility

assistance can be provided in addition to eligible rent/mortgage

assistance. The National Board encourages the use of the metered

utility verification form (along with a copy of the past due utility

bill) as the preferred method for verifying eligible utility

assistance. Documentation required: (1) nonmetered utilities [e.g.,

propane, firewood], receipts/invoices for fuel including due date and

canceled checks; (2) metered utilities [e.g., electricity, water], copy

of past due utility bill showing one month's charges including due date

and canceled checks. Note: utility disconnect and termination notices

often do not show amount owed by month. This information must verified

with the utility company and written onto the notice or metered utility

verification form if not included.

For other shelter assistance, eligible program costs include:

(23) Off-site emergency lodging in a hotel or motel, or other off-

site shelter facility provided:

(i) No appropriate on-site shelter is available; and,

(ii) It is limited to 30-days' assistance per individual or family

during the program period. Note: Assistance may be extended in extreme

cases with prior Local Board written approval. A copy of this approval

should accompany LRO's documentation. Note: An LRO may not operate as a

vendor for itself or other LROs, except for shared maintenance fee for

food banks. Documentation required: receipts/invoices from off-site

shelter (hotel/motel) and canceled checks.

(b) Ineligible Program Costs.

Purposes for which funds CANNOT BE USED include, but are not

limited to:

(1) Cash payments of any kind including checks made out to cash or

reimbursements to staff, volunteers or clients for program purchases.

(2) Deposits of any kind.

(3) Payment of more than one month's rent amount.

(4) Payment of more than one month's mortgage, first month's

mortgage, or down payment on mortgage.

(5) Transportation of people not related to the direct provision of

food or shelter (e.g. to another agency, another city, relative's home,

transportation to jobs, health care, etc.).

(6) Payment of more than one month's portion of an accumulated

utility bill.

(7) Payments made directly to a client.

(8) Rental security; deposits; revolving loan accounts.

(9) Real property (land or buildings) costing more than $300.

(10) Property taxes of any kind.

(11) Equipment costing more than $300 per item (e.g., vehicles,

freezers, washers).

(12) Emergency repairs/building code or rehabilitation to

government-owned or profit-making facilities or leased facilities.

(13) Routine maintenance of agency facilities; routine maintenance

or service contracts on equipment.

[[Page 15492]]

(14) Rehabilitation for expansion of service.

(15) Repairs of any kind to an individual's house or apartment.

(16) Purchase of supplies or equipment for an individual's home or

private use.

(17) Lease-purchase agreements.

(18) Administrative cost reimbursement to State or regional offices

of governmental or voluntary organizations.

(18) Lobbying efforts.

(19) Expenditures made prior to beginning of jurisdiction's

program.

(20) Expenditures made after end of jurisdiction's program.

(21) Gas or repairs for client-owned transportation.

(22) Repairs to LRO-owned vehicles.

(23) Prescription medication or medical supplies.

(24) Clothing (except underwear/diapers for clients of mass

shelters, if necessary).

(25) Payments for expenses not incurred (i.e., where no goods or

services have been provided during new program period).

(26) Emergency assistance for natural disaster victims.

(i) Supplies bought for and in anticipation of a natural disaster.

(27) Telephone costs, except as administrative allowance and

limited to the total allowance (2 percent).

(28) Salaries, except as administrative allowance and limited to

the total allowance (2 percent).

(29) Office equipment, except as administrative allowance and

limited to the total allowance (2 percent).

(30) LRO may not operate as a vendor for itself or other LROs,

except for shared maintenance fee for food banks.

(31) Direct expenses associated with new or expanded services or to

prevent closing.

(32) Increased utility costs due to expansion of service.

(33) Encumbrance of funds for shelter, emergency repairs,

utilities, that is, payments for goods or services that are purchased

and are to be delivered at a later date. Also, withholding assistance

in anticipation of a future need (e.g., holiday events, special

programs).

(34) Supplementing foster care costs, where an LRO has already

received payment for basic boarding of a client. Comprehensive foster

care costs beyond food and shelter are not allowed.

(35) No fee for service may be charged to individuals or families

in order to receive service.

(c) Administrative allowance.

(1) There is an administrative allowance limitation of two percent

(2%) of total funds received by the Local Board, excluding any interest

earned. This allowance is a part of the total award, not in addition to

the award. The local administrative allowance is intended for use by

LROs or Local Boards and not for reimbursement of the program or

administrative costs that a recipient's parent organization (its State

or regional offices) might incur as a result of this additional

funding.

(2) The Local Board may elect to use, for its own administrative

costs, all or any portion of the 2 percent allowance. The decision on

distribution of the allowance among LROs rests with the Local Board. No

LRO may receive an allowance greater than 2 percent of that LRO's award

amount unless the LRO is providing the administrative support for the

Local Board and it is approved by the National Board.

(3) The SSA Committee, when in operation, may utilize a maximum of

one-half of one percent (0.5%) for its administrative costs in

allocating the SSA grant. As with Local Board awards, this

administrative allowance is part of the total award, not in addition to

the award.

(4) Any of the administrative allowance not used must be put back

into program funds for additional services. Note: The administrative

allowance may only be allocated in whole-dollar amounts.

Required Documentation: None with the final report; LROs receiving

funds for administration must retain documentation that the funds were

spent on the direct administration of EFSP.

6.6 Required Documentation

(a) Documentation.

LRO Documentation of EFSP expenditures requires copies of canceled

checks (both sides) and itemized vendor invoices. An acceptable invoice

has the following characteristics:

(1) It must be vendor originated;

(2) It must have name of vendor;

(3) It must have name of purchaser;

(4) It must have date of purchase;

(5) It must be itemized; and,

(6) It must have total cost of purchase.

Documentation may also include: per diem schedule, per meal

allowance schedule, and mileage logs.

All LROs will be required to periodically submit documentation to

the National Board to ensure continued program compliance. Any LRO

receiving over $100,000 in Federal funds must comply with OMB Circular

A-133.

(b) Reports.

In addition to the aforementioned documentation, reports to the

Local Board must be submitted by their due date. Interim report/second

and third check request forms will be enclosed in the LROs' first check

package. When the LRO is ready to request its second/third check it

must complete and sign the interim report and forward it to the Local

Board for its review and approval. The reverse side (second/third check

request) should be completed by the Local Board chair and mailed to the

National Board. LROs must complete all portions of the final report

form, return two copies to the Local Board, including one copy of

documentation if requested, and retain a copy for their records.

The LRO must work with the Local Board to quickly clear up any

problems related to compliance exception(s) at the end of the program.

7.0 Local Appeals Process

(a) Fairness and openness. An appeals process is a statement to

eligible agencies and to the community at large that the Local Board is

interested in fairness and openness.

A good appeals process begins with prevention. If the Local Board

includes both representatives of affiliates of the National Board and

representatives of other groups involved with assisting hungry and

homeless people, it is less likely to experience an appeal. Similarly,

if the Local Board's decision-making process is open, thorough, and

even-handed, appeals are less likely.

It is the responsibility of the Local Board to establish a written

appeals process. That process may be simple or elaborate, depending on

the needs of the community.

(b) Appeals guidelines. The appeal process should meet the

following guidelines:

(1) It should be available to agencies and to the public upon

request;

(2) It should be timely, without undue delay;

(3) It should include the basis for appeal (e.g., Provision of

information not previously available to the group making the appeal or

to the Local Board; correction of erroneous information; violation of

Federal or National Board guidelines; or allegation of bias, fraud, or

misuse of Federal funds on the part of the Local Board may be cause for

appeal);

(4) The decision should be communicated to the organization making

the appeal in a timely manner. In the case of an appeal on the basis of

fraud or other abuse of Federal funds, the agency making the appeal

must be informed of the right of referral to the National Board;

(c) Primary decision maker. Except for cost and LRO eligibility,

the Local Board

[[Page 15493]]

is the primary decision maker. Only when there is significant question

of misapplication of guidelines, fraud, or other abuse on the part of

the Local Board will the National Board consider action.

(d) Common appeals practices. The National Board does not mandate

any particular appeals process. However, some Local Boards have

developed processes which work well for them and may offer some help to

other communities. Common practices include the following:

(1) Set a time period of not more than 30 days for agencies or

organizations to appeal a funding decision;

(2) Require written notice of appeal, signed by the Chief Volunteer

Officer of the organization making the appeal;

(3) The first level of appeal is usually to the Local Board, or to

an executive committee of the board;

(e) Appeals boards; delegations. Some boards appoint one or more

members to act as a liaison with the organization making the appeal:

(1) In the case of an appeal for the purpose of providing

previously unavailable information or correction of erroneous

information, the process usually ends with prompt notification of

decision (within ten working days of appeal).

(2) In the case of appeals for the purpose of contesting alleged

prejudice, violation of law or National Board guidelines, fraud, or

misuse of Federal funds, some boards have allowed appeals to a group

other than the board itself. This practice is not mandated but is

permitted by the National Board. Such groups may simply be composed of

different individuals representing the same organizations that make up

the Local Board. They may also include an entirely different group of

persons who have knowledge of the program and are deemed by the board

to be both responsible and unbiased, and to hold the trust of the

community at large.

(3) If the board chooses to delegate authority to any third party

in an appeals process, the power and authority of that body should be

clear. Is it simply advisory to the Local Board? Will the board abide

by the decisions of this body as long as they are consistent with the

law and the National Board guidelines?

(4) The disposition of appeals is often communicated by telephone

to the chief professional and volunteer officers of the organization

appealing immediately after a decision is made. In such cases, a

written communication is sent as soon as possible confirming the action

taken. The written communication is, of course, the official

notification.

(f) National Board role. It is important to reaffirm that no single

appeals process is mandated or advised by the National Board.

8.0 Allocations Formula

(a) Designation of Target Areas.

Local jurisdictions will be selected to receive funds from the

National Board based on average unemployment statistics from the U.S.

Department of Labor for the most current 12-month period (August 1,

1995-July 31, 1996) available. Also used are poverty statistics from

the 1990 Census. The Board adopted this combined approach in order to

target funds for high-need areas more effectively. Funds designated for

a particular jurisdiction must be used to provide services within that

jurisdiction.

The National Board based its determination of high-need

jurisdictions on four factors:

(1) Most current twelve-month national unemployment rates;

(2) Total number of unemployed within a civil jurisdiction;

(3) Total number of individuals below the poverty level within a

civil jurisdiction; and, (4) The total population of the civil

jurisdiction.

In addition to unemployment, poverty was used to qualify a

jurisdiction for receipt of an award.

(b) Fiscal Year 1997 Formula.

Jurisdictions were selected under Phase XV (PL 104-204) according

to the following criteria:

(1) Jurisdictions, including balance of counties, with 18,000+

unemployed and a 4.5% rate of unemployment.

(2) Jurisdictions, including balance of counties, with 400 to

17,999 unemployed and a 6.8% rate of unemployment.

(3) Jurisdictions, including balance of counties, with 400 or more

unemployed and an 11.7% rate of poverty.

Jurisdictions with a minimum of 400 unemployed may qualify for an

award based upon their rate of unemployment or their rate of poverty.

Once a jurisdiction's eligibility is established, the National Board

will determine its fund distribution based on a ratio calculated as

follows: the average number of unemployed within an eligible area

divided by the average number of unemployed covered by the national

program equals the area's portion of the award (less National Board

administrative costs, and less that portion of program funds required

to fulfill designated awards).

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01AP97.004

Puerto Rico and U.S. territories will receive a designated

percentage of the total award based on the decision of the National

Board.

9.0 Amendments to Plan

The National Board reserves the right to amend this Plan at any

time.

Dated: March 26, 1997.

Kay C. Goss,

Associate Director, Preparedness, Training and Exercise Directorate.

The following is a list of Phase XV (fiscal year 1997) allocations.

These jurisdictions were notified in October, 1996, regarding this

award.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

State or territory Jurisdiction FY 97 award

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alabama........................... Autauga County...... $14,048

Baldwin County...... 45,084

Barbour County...... 16,256

Bibb County......... 8,271

Blount County....... 12,199

Bullock County...... 10,293

Butler County....... 11,597

[[Page 15494]]

Calhoun County...... 57,871

Chambers County..... 15,511

Cherokee County..... 8,601

Chilton County...... 14,436

Choctaw County...... 11,425

Clarke County....... 21,832

Cleburne County..... 6,207

Coffee County....... 15,697

Colbert County...... 27,638

Conecuh County...... 12,085

Covington County.... 20,227

Crenshaw County..... 6,279

Cullman County...... 28,943

Dale County......... 18,679

Dallas County....... 38,232

De Kalb County...... 25,517

Elmore County....... 17,417

Escambia County..... 17,403

Etowah County....... 42,876

Fayette County...... 6,078

Franklin County..... 17,962

Geneva County....... 14,694

Greene County....... 7,956

Hale County......... 9,045

Henry County........ 6,996

Houston County...... 26,305

Jackson County...... 34,734

Jefferson County.... 187,590

Lamar County........ 7,755

Lauderdale County... 39,121

Lawrence County..... 17,159

Lee County.......... 26,749

Limestone County.... 19,223

Lowndes County...... 9,017

Macon County........ 9,705

Marengo County...... 13,461

Marion County....... 15,640

Marshall County..... 38,203

Mobile County....... 176,939

Monroe County....... 21,617

Montgomery County... 74,443

Morgan County....... 43,077

Perry County........ 9,633

Pickens County...... 11,841

Pike County......... 12,658

Randolph County..... 10,995

Russell County...... 20,657

St. Clair County.... 14,321

State Set-Aside 49,696

Committee, AL.

Sumter County....... 11,941

Talladega County.... 39,006

Tallapoosa County... 17,260

Tuscaloosa County... 44,453

Walker County....... 30,104

Washington County... 11,827

Wilcox County....... 9,045

Winston County...... 11,726

Alaska............................ Bethel Census Area.. 7,770

Fairbanks North Star 44,339

Boro.

Kenai Peninsula 40,296

Borough.

Ketchikan Gateway 9,017

Borough.

Kodiak Island 10,594

Borough.

Matanuska-Susitna 38,562

Census.

Nome Census Area.... 6,623

State Set-Aside 73,759

Committee, AK.

Valdez-Cordova 7,956

Census Area.

Wrangell-Petersburg 5,834

Census.

American Samoa.................... American Samoa...... 105,000

Arizona........................... Apache County....... 47,077

Cochise County...... 54,975

Coconino County..... 63,978

Gila County......... 20,356

Graham County....... 14,005

La Paz County....... 9,418

[[Page 15495]]

Maricopa County..... 623,193

Mohave County....... 55,162

Navajo County....... 66,085

Pima County......... 176,308

Pinal County........ 36,899

Santa Cruz County... 43,378

State Set-Aside 2,237

Committee, AZ.

Yavapai County...... 40,267

Yuma County......... 251,941

Arkansas.......................... Arkansas County..... 7,612

Ashley County....... 9,390

Baxter County....... 7,469

Boone County........ 9,977

Bradley County...... 6,207

Carroll County...... 8,415

Chicot County....... 7,927

Clay County......... 7,927

Cleburne County..... 7,211

Columbia County..... 10,794

Conway County....... 6,695

Craighead County.... 22,248

Crawford County..... 17,073

Crittenden County... 17,604

Cross County........ 7,082

Desha County........ 10,106

Drew County......... 9,332

Faulkner County..... 23,925

Garland County...... 23,653

Greene County....... 13,389

Hempstead County.... 12,658

Hot Spring County... 8,271

Independence County. 14,765

Jackson County...... 10,938

Jefferson County.... 36,626

Johnson County...... 5,763

Lawrence County..... 7,469

Lee County.......... 6,666

Little River County. 5,791

Logan County........ 6,924

Lonoke County....... 12,773

Miller County....... 15,253

Mississippi County.. 33,616

Ouachita County..... 16,772

Phillips County..... 15,582

Poinsett County..... 8,902

Pope County......... 17,532

Pulaski County...... 97,020

Randolph County..... 12,701

Sebastian County.... 37,028

St. Francis County.. 16,973

State Set-Aside 72,476

Committee, AR.

Union County........ 19,410

Washington County... 27,796

White County........ 24,685

California........................ Alameda County...... 313,825

Amador County....... 14,091

Butte County........ 112,474

Calaveras County.... 20,628

Colusa County....... 24,613

Contra Costa County. 355,397

Del Norte County.... 16,657

El Dorado County.... 71,160

Fresno City/County.. 738,390

Glenn County........ 25,603

Humboldt County..... 69,009

Imperial County..... 255,582

Inyo County......... 9,232

Kern County......... 533,483

Kings County........ 87,574

Lake County......... 40,239

Lassen County....... 18,492

Los Angeles City/ 5,099,363

County.

Madera County....... 107,184

[[Page 15496]]

Mariposa County..... 10,121

Mendocino County.... 53,470

Merced County....... 203,660

Modoc County........ 7,612

Mono County......... 10,178

Monterey County..... 301,913

Napa County......... 49,800

Nevada County....... 42,790

Oakland City........ 222,338

Orange County....... 903,216

Placer County....... 87,746

Plumas County....... 18,249

Riverside County.... 788,420

Sacramento County... 509,400

San Benito County... 43,507

San Bernardino 768,967

County.

San Diego County.... 1,062,336

San Francisco City/ 318,570

County.

San Joaquin County.. 415,032

San Luis Obispo 87,932

County.

San Mateo County.... 205,323

Santa Barbara County 170,918

Santa Clara County.. 520,653

Santa Cruz County... 175,305

Shasta County....... 109,979

Siskiyou County..... 38,461

Solano County....... 197,926

Stanislaus County... 418,515

State Set-Aside 112,201

Committee, CA.

Sutter County....... 82,212

Tehama County....... 37,128

Trinity County...... 10,780

Tulare County....... 384,842

Tuolumne County..... 30,921

Ventura County...... 402,273

Yolo County......... 83,488

Yuba County......... 43,694

Colorado.......................... Adams County........ 96,662

Alamosa County...... 6,881

Boulder County...... 89,709

Delta County........ 8,988

Denver City/County.. 188,106

Fremont County...... 11,525

Gunnison County..... 6,680

La Plata County..... 15,597

Larimer County...... 69,268

Las Animas County... 6,809

Mesa County......... 41,644

Montezuma County.... 10,508

Montrose County..... 13,919

Morgan County....... 6,838

Otero County........ 6,709

Pueblo County....... 48,840

Rio Grande County... 6,967

State Set-Aside 257,306

Committee, CO.

Weld County......... 52,266

Connecticut....................... Fairfield Census/ 133,954

Bridgeport.

Fairfield Census/ 40,769

Danbury.

Fairfield Census/ 49,505

Norwalk.

Fairfield Census/ 66,978

Stamford.

Hartford Census 359,985

County.

New Haven Census 336,131

County.

New London Census 98,411

County.

State Set-Aside 132,096

Committee, CT.

Delaware.......................... Kent County......... 46,733

New Castle County... 158,934

State Set-Aside 20,902

Committee, DE.

DC................................ District of Columbia 347,112

Florida........................... Alachua County...... 41,543

Baker County........ 6,652

Bay County.......... 60,724

Brevard County...... 179,018

Broward County...... 578,238

Citrus County....... 32,412

[[Page 15497]]

Columbia County..... 16,829

Dade County......... 824,000

De Soto County...... 9,705

Duval County........ 196,521

Escambia County..... 77,310

Gadsden County...... 12,371

Gulf County......... 5,834

Hardee County....... 21,617

Hendry County....... 34,892

Highlands County.... 34,404

Hillsborough County. 300,580

Holmes County....... 7,454

Indian River County. 57,556

Jackson County...... 14,235

Lee County.......... 102,367

Leon County......... 51,277

Levy County......... 8,615

Manatee County...... 58,444

Marion County....... 66,329

Martin County....... 49,299

Miami City.......... 275,651

Nassau County....... 15,396

Okeechobee County... 23,782

Orange County....... 255,395

Osceola County...... 44,496

Palm Beach County... 462,309

Pinellas County..... 250,321

Polk County......... 197,797

Putnam County....... 22,062

Santa Rosa County... 27,796

Sarasota County..... 63,648

Seminole County..... 107,485

St Lucie County..... 133,360

State Set-Aside 214,011

Committee, FL.

Sumter County....... 9,848

Suwannee County..... 8,830

Taylor County....... 10,579

Volusia County...... 113,133

Wakulla County...... 6,408

Walton County....... 10,078

Washington County... 8,357

Georgia........................... Appling County...... 9,404

Atlanta & Coll Pk/ 558,856

Clayton, Dekalb,

Fulton Cos..

Baldwin County...... 10,694

Barrow County....... 13,360

Ben Hill County..... 6,838

Brantley County..... 5,820

Bulloch County...... 11,568

Burke County........ 18,908

Butts County........ 7,239

Carroll County...... 33,186

Catoosa County...... 15,324

Chatham County...... 75,604

Chattooga County.... 7,999

Clarke County....... 21,918

Cobb County......... 144,283

Coffee County....... 14,077

Colquitt County..... 10,479

Crisp County........ 9,361

Decatur County...... 10,708

Dodge County........ 9,676

Dougherty County.... 41,414

Effingham County.... 8,873

Elbert County....... 11,597

Emanuel County...... 12,113

Fannin County....... 7,927

Floyd County........ 34,103

Franklin County..... 7,913

Gilmer County....... 7,325

Glynn County........ 15,654

Grady County........ 6,178

Hancock County...... 6,250

Haralson County..... 12,486

Harris County....... 6,006

[[Page 15498]]

Hart County......... 10,364

Houston County...... 26,491

Jackson County...... 14,350

Jefferson County.... 14,450

Johnson County...... 7,182

Laurens County...... 19,352

Lee County.......... 5,849

Liberty County...... 17,432

Lowndes County...... 20,700

Macon County........ 8,658

Macon/Bibb,Jones 60,480

Counties.

Madison County...... 6,981

Mc Duffie County.... 9,605

Meriwether County... 8,400

Mitchell County..... 8,458

Monroe County....... 7,813

Muskogee County..... 67,017

Newton County....... 15,195

Peach County........ 11,239

Pickens County...... 5,920

Pierce County....... 6,150

Polk County......... 21,617

Richmond County..... 84,434

Screven County...... 9,031

Spalding County..... 19,654

State Set-Aside 311,970

Committee, GA.

Stephens County..... 11,784

Sumter County....... 11,325

Telfair County...... 8,228

Terrell County...... 8,658

Thomas County....... 10,952

Tift County......... 15,783

Toombs County....... 12,572

Troup County........ 19,152

Upson County........ 10,436

Walker County....... 24,829

Walton County....... 14,536

Ware County......... 12,586

Washington County... 8,744

Wayne County........ 10,364

Worth County........ 8,443

Guam.............................. Guam................ 100,000

Hawaii............................ Hawaii County....... 90,713

Honolulu City/County 292,681

Kauai County........ 46,489

Maui County......... 67,476

Idaho............................. Bannock County...... 27,968

Benewah County...... 6,279

Bingham County...... 16,442

Bonner County....... 19,854

Canyon County....... 44,410

Cassia County....... 8,587

Clearwater County... 7,082

Elmore County....... 7,512

Gem County.......... 6,422

Idaho County........ 10,364

Jefferson County.... 6,795

Kootenai County..... 53,657

Latah County........ 6,981

Minidoka County..... 10,436

Nez Perce County.... 12,085

Payette County...... 9,691

Shoshone County..... 9,361

State Set-Aside 80,239

Committee, ID.

Twin Falls County... 20,858

Illinois.......................... Adams County........ 23,911

Bond County......... 6,967

Carroll County...... 8,716

Cass County......... 5,978

Champaign County.... 40,296

Chicago City........ 1,254,098

Christian County.... 18,449

Clark County........ 6,293

Clay County......... 5,978

[[Page 15499]]

Coles County........ 17,217

Cook County......... 837,016

Crawford County..... 10,680

DeKalb County....... 27,323

Edgar County........ 6,981

Fayette County...... 8,587

Franklin County..... 27,093

Fulton County....... 18,464

Greene County....... 6,264

Grundy County....... 17,518

Hancock County...... 7,426

Jackson County...... 22,449

Jefferson County.... 19,453

Johnson County...... 5,978

Kane County......... 136,815

Kankakee County..... 44,654

Knox County......... 21,603

La Salle County..... 62,387

Lake County......... 170,631

Lawrence County..... 10,393

Macon County........ 66,028

Macoupin County..... 21,216

Madison County...... 103,729

Marion County....... 24,470

Mason County........ 9,490

Massac County....... 6,006

Mc Donough County... 6,695

McLean County....... 35,981

Montgomery County... 16,772

Peoria County....... 78,356

Perry County........ 14,192

Pike County......... 7,067

Randolph County..... 18,879

Richland County..... 6,494

Rock Island County.. 50,216

Saline County....... 15,912

Sangamon County..... 63,433

St. Clair County.... 99,185

State Set-Aside 304,394

Committee, IL.

Stephenson County... 18,091

Tazewell County..... 54,488

Union County........ 10,149

Vermilion County.... 46,245

Wabash County....... 5,963

Warren County....... 6,594

Wayne County........ 7,483

White County........ 7,784

Will County......... 154,261

Williamson County... 34,017

Winnebago County.... 93,623

Indiana........................... Clay County......... 12,300

Crawford County..... 6,809

Daviess County...... 8,873

Delaware County..... 45,457

Elkhart County...... 56,552

Fayette County...... 14,722

Floyd County........ 21,488

Gary City........... 86,885

Grant County........ 34,146

Greene County....... 19,510

Henry County........ 19,252

Howard County....... 25,373

Jennings County..... 6,551

Knox County......... 14,608

La Porte County..... 44,267

Lake County......... 122,752

Lawrence County..... 25,789

Madison County...... 48,195

Marion County....... 263,222

Monroe County....... 26,262

Orange County....... 13,633

Owen County......... 7,354

Parke County........ 6,150

Perry County........ 10,250

[[Page 15500]]

Pike County......... 6,307

Randolph County..... 13,260

Scott County........ 8,443

St. Joseph County... 82,614

Starke County....... 10,235

State Set-Aside 346,238

Committee, IN.

Sullivan County..... 12,988

Tippecanoe County... 29,072

Vanderburgh County.. 59,649

Vermillion County... 9,691

Vigo County......... 50,359

Washington County... 12,601

Wayne County........ 29,373

Iowa.............................. Blackhawk County.... 40,669

Buchanan County..... 6,953

Clayton County...... 8,802

Clinton County...... 18,593

Delaware County..... 7,139

Des Moines County... 14,450

Fayette County...... 6,594

Floyd County........ 6,193

Jackson County...... 8,988

Johnson County...... 25,158

Lee County.......... 15,023

Polk County......... 74,701

Pottawattamie County 20,112

Scott County........ 41,414

State Set-Aside 190,329

Committee, IA.

Story County........ 17,360

Wapello County...... 13,002

Webster County...... 10,551

Winneshiek County... 7,813

Woodbury County..... 26,850

Kansas............................ Allen County........ 6,178

Atchison County..... 8,343

Barton County....... 8,716

Cherokee County..... 10,178

Crawford County..... 12,601

Douglas County...... 32,713

Ellis County........ 6,623

Ford County......... 7,698

Franklin County..... 9,132

Geary County........ 8,644

Labette County...... 8,558

Lyon County......... 11,626

Manhattan/ 21,130

Pottawatamie, Riley.

Montgomery County... 16,170

Reno County......... 17,561

Saline County....... 16,256

Sedgwick County..... 134,335

Seward County....... 6,508

Shawnee County...... 55,162

State Set-Aside 144,256

Committee, KS.

Wyandotte County.... 81,667

Kentucky.......................... Adair County........ 8,701

Barren County....... 15,812

Bell County......... 10,751

Boyd County......... 23,051

Boyle County........ 8,357

Breathitt County.... 7,856

Breckinridge County. 7,110

Butler County....... 5,748

Caldwell County..... 8,085

Calloway County..... 9,891

Carter County....... 19,768

Christian County.... 16,915

Clark County........ 8,845

Clay County......... 8,816

Daviess County...... 38,863

Elliott County...... 6,049

Fayette County...... 46,675

Floyd County........ 22,033

Franklin County..... 11,511

Grant County........ 6,551

[[Page 15501]]

Graves County....... 17,403

Grayson County...... 10,579

Green County........ 6,365

Greenup County...... 15,711

Hardin County....... 27,151

Harlan County....... 21,904

Hart County......... 7,368

Henderson County.... 22,047

Hopkins County...... 20,829

Jefferson County.... 225,191

Jessamine County.... 6,350

Johnson County...... 13,088

Kenton County....... 44,410

Knott County........ 9,002

Knox County......... 10,751

Laurel County....... 18,736

Lawrence County..... 9,648

Letcher County...... 13,303

Lewis County........ 8,787

Lincoln County...... 6,953

Logan County........ 8,859

Madison County...... 18,378

Magoffin County..... 10,121

Marion County....... 8,830

Marshall County..... 10,680

Martin County....... 6,508

Mason County........ 6,350

McCreary County..... 9,103

McCracken County.... 19,094

Meade County........ 6,910

Montgomery County... 9,533

Morgan County....... 7,010

Muhlenberg County... 14,694

Nelson County....... 18,492

Ohio County......... 12,586

Perry County........ 17,288

Pike County......... 35,709

Powell County....... 6,494

Pulaski County...... 19,496

Rockcastle County... 5,877

Rowan County........ 7,913

Russell County...... 10,536

Scott County........ 5,892

Shelby County....... 6,336

Simpson County...... 6,150

State Set-Aside 116,982

Committee, KY.

Taylor County....... 8,271

Union County........ 6,193

Warren County....... 34,247

Wayne County........ 7,626

Webster County...... 6,264

Whitley County...... 13,977

Louisiana......................... Acadia Parish....... 26,477

Allen Parish........ 10,794

Ascension Parish.... 28,885

Assumption Parish... 10,192

Avoyelles Parish.... 19,840

Beauregard Parish... 13,332

Bienville Parish.... 8,687

Calcasieu Parish.... 72,235

Caldwell Parish..... 6,322

Catahoula Parish.... 8,013

Claiborne Parish.... 7,655

Concordia Parish.... 13,805

De Soto Parish...... 14,565

East Baton Rouge 150,892

Parish.

East Carroll Parish. 7,970

East Feliciana 8,157

Parish.

Evangeline Parish... 11,984

Franklin Parish..... 13,547

Grant Parish........ 9,189

Iberia Parish....... 27,810

Iberville Parish.... 17,145

Jefferson Davis 12,515

Parish.

[[Page 15502]]

Jefferson Parish.... 174,688

Lafayette Parish.... 61,225

Lafourche Parish.... 24,986

Lincoln Parish...... 8,501

Livingston Parish... 41,357

Madison Parish...... 10,465

Morehouse Parish.... 17,948

Natchitoches Parish. 19,467

New Orleans City/ 222,467

Orleans.

Ouachita Parish..... 56,925

Plaquemines Parish.. 8,544

Pointe Coupee Parish 11,784

Rapides Parish...... 53,728

Red River Parish.... 6,479

Richland Parish..... 12,529

Sabine Parish....... 8,902

Shreveport/Bossier, 154,246

Caddo.

St Bernard Parish... 31,136

St Charles Parish... 19,037

St James Parish..... 13,117

St John Baptist 21,918

Parish.

St Landry Parish.... 36,411

St Martin Parish.... 19,912

St Mary Parish...... 27,710

St Tammany Parish... 55,463

State Set-Aside 12,279

Committee, LA.

Tangipahoa Parish... 53,857

Terrebonne Parish... 32,756

Union Parish........ 9,820

Vermilion Parish.... 19,209

Vernon Parish....... 16,643

Washington Parish... 20,370

Webster Parish...... 26,377

West Baton Rouge 9,390

Parish.

West Carroll Parish. 11,425

Winn Parish......... 6,738

Maine............................. Androscoggin County. 48,209

Aroostook County.... 52,538

Cumberland County... 63,490

Franklin County..... 14,120

Kennebec County..... 52,538

Knox County......... 11,497

Oxford County....... 25,416

Penobscot County.... 62,014

Piscataquis County.. 9,605

Somerset County..... 31,781

State Set-Aside 45,056

Committee, ME.

Waldo County........ 17,718

Washington County... 22,979

Maryland.......................... Allegany County..... 41,801

Anne Arundel County. 143,739

Baltimore City...... 378,319

Baltimore County.... 295,591

Caroline County..... 13,260

Cecil County........ 49,026

Dorchester County... 24,126

Garrett County...... 20,399

Kent County......... 11,898

Prince Georges 304,078

County.

Somerset County..... 16,930

State Set-Aside 272,531

Committee, MD.

Washington County... 56,911

Worcester County.... 33,043

Massachusetts..................... Barnstable County... 98,569

Berkshire County.... 53,972

Bristol County...... 306,386

Essex County........ 257,058

Franklin County..... 23,854

Hampden County...... 182,472

Middlesex County.... 440,821

Plymouth County..... 192,679

State Set-Aside 121,678

Committee, MA.

Suffolk County...... 256,012

Worcester County.... 262,047

[[Page 15503]]

Michigan.......................... Alcona County....... 6,393

Alpena County....... 20,657

Antrim County....... 9,777

Arenac County....... 8,859

Bay County.......... 41,988

Benzie County....... 7,598

Berrien County...... 64,222

Branch County....... 14,364

Calhoun County...... 47,636

Cass County......... 18,808

Charlevoix County... 13,260

Cheboygan County.... 19,611

Chippewa County..... 21,660

Clare County........ 13,776

Crawford County..... 5,791

Delta County........ 21,947

Detroit City........ 513,486

Emmet County........ 22,220

Genesee County...... 185,354

Gladwin County...... 10,135

Gogebic County...... 13,317

Gratiot County...... 18,034

Hillsdale County.... 14,751

Holland/Allegan, 81,581

Ottawa Cos..

Houghton County..... 16,686

Huron County........ 17,747

Iosco County........ 13,647

Iron County......... 6,824

Isabella County..... 16,973

Jackson County...... 53,112

Kalamazoo County.... 59,190

Kalkaska County..... 8,271

Kent County......... 160,353

Lansing/Eaton, 104,489

Ingham Counties.

Mackinac County..... 11,167

Manistee County..... 15,955

Marquette County.... 32,125

Mason County........ 18,163

Mecosta County...... 12,357

Menominee County.... 11,669

Missaukee County.... 6,580

Montcalm County..... 24,570

Montmorency County.. 6,465

Muskegon County..... 70,128

Newaygo County...... 27,050

Oakland County...... 304,035

Oceana County....... 19,826

Ogemaw County....... 11,611

Ontonagon County.... 8,142

Osceola County...... 10,880

Presque Isle County. 12,887

Roscommon County.... 10,923

Saginaw County...... 76,421

Sanilac County...... 20,958

Schoolcraft County.. 7,024

St. Clair County.... 60,165

State Set-Aside 288,492

Committee, MI.

Tuscola County...... 27,524

Van Buren County.... 32,569

Washtenaw County.... 56,280

Wayne County........ 231,011

Wexford County...... 18,378

Minnesota......................... Aitkin County....... 7,196

Becker County....... 13,661

Beltrami County..... 16,872

Blue Earth County... 14,651

Carlton County...... 14,149

Cass County......... 13,289

Clay County......... 15,439

Clearwater County... 7,813

Cottonwood County... 6,236

Crow Wing County.... 22,263

Douglas County...... 9,719

Faribault County.... 5,806

[[Page 15504]]

Fillmore County..... 6,609

Hennepin County..... 248,988

Hubbard County...... 7,727

Itasca County....... 25,044

Kanabec County...... 8,630

Kandiyohi County.... 10,909

Koochiching County.. 7,096

Lyon County......... 6,738

Marshall County..... 6,766

Martin County....... 7,698

Mille Lacs County... 10,379

Morrison County..... 15,955

Otter Tail County... 20,141

Pennington County... 6,494

Pine County......... 12,572

Polk County......... 12,529

Ramsey County....... 113,993

Renville County..... 5,877

StCloud/Benton, 71,504

Sherburne, Stearns.

St. Louis County.... 75,976

State Set-Aside 225,887

Committee, MN.

Todd County......... 10,035

Winona County....... 14,292

Mississippi....................... Adams County........ 14,579

Alcorn County....... 21,374

Attala County....... 10,149

Bolivar County...... 23,137

Chickasaw County.... 13,891

Clarke County....... 7,196

Clay County......... 13,145

Coahoma County...... 18,421

Copiah County....... 12,042

Covington County.... 7,927

George County....... 11,712

Greene County....... 6,107

Grenada County...... 10,680

Hancock County...... 14,134

Harrison County..... 62,702

Hattiesburg/Forrest, 29,860

Lamar Cos..

Hinds County........ 80,420

Holmes County....... 12,615

Humphreys County.... 7,440

Itawamba County..... 9,447

Jackson County...... 52,366

Jasper County....... 5,978

Jefferson County.... 5,820

Jefferson Davis 10,680

County.

Jones County........ 16,686

Lafayette County.... 6,852

Lauderdale County... 27,954

Lawrence County..... 5,877

Leake County........ 7,182

Lee County.......... 25,531

Leflore County...... 20,600

Lincoln County...... 10,837

Lowndes County...... 24,155

Madison County...... 17,303

Marion County....... 10,106

Marshall County..... 18,707

Monroe County....... 27,982

Neshoba County...... 8,859

Newton County....... 8,415

Noxubee County...... 6,365

Oktibbeha County.... 8,372

Panola County....... 25,975

Pearl River County.. 12,916

Pike County......... 12,572

Pontotoc County..... 10,264

Prentiss County..... 14,249

Quitman County...... 7,870

Scott County........ 10,938

Sharkey County...... 7,827

Simpson County...... 10,809

State Set-Aside 53,913

Committee, MS.

[[Page 15505]]

Sunflower County.... 18,421

Tallahatchie County. 9,461

Tate County......... 9,375

Tippah County....... 9,662

Tishomingo County... 11,697

Tunica County....... 7,340

Union County........ 12,300

Warren County....... 21,832

Washington County... 42,518

Wayne County........ 7,698

Wilkinson County.... 6,637

Winston County...... 7,784

Yalobusha County.... 5,777

Yazoo County........ 11,482

Missouri.......................... Audrain County...... 7,053

Barry County........ 10,321

Bates County........ 5,892

Boone County........ 17,890

Buchanan County..... 38,304

Butler County....... 16,084

Camden County....... 13,733

Cape Girardeau 18,865

County.

Crawford County..... 11,052

Douglas County...... 8,228

Dunklin County...... 13,188

Greene County....... 53,642

Henry County........ 8,601

Howell County....... 14,550

Johnson County...... 8,085

Joplin/Jasper, 44,711

Newton Counties.

Kansas City/ 293,326

Clay,Jackson,Platte.

Laclede County...... 14,894

Lafayette County.... 9,060

Lawrence County..... 10,565

Lincoln County...... 10,751

Linn County......... 8,486

Macon County........ 5,935

Marion County....... 9,877

Miller County....... 10,221

Mississippi County.. 6,752

Morgan County....... 6,537

New Madrid County... 8,429

Pemiscot County..... 10,794

Pettis County....... 14,493

Phelps County....... 9,504

Pike County......... 6,494

Polk County......... 7,225

Pulaski County...... 10,766

Randolph County..... 8,128

Ripley County....... 6,279

Saline County....... 6,838

Scott County........ 15,654

St. Francois County. 22,320

St. Louis City...... 168,051

St. Louis County.... 266,304

State Set-Aside 175,751

Committee, MO.

Ste. Genevieve 6,078

County.

Stoddard County..... 17,690

Stone County........ 19,137

Taney County........ 30,692

Texas County........ 13,891

Washington County... 11,683

Wayne County........ 7,239

Webster County...... 7,913

Wright County....... 12,271

Montana........................... Big Horn County..... 8,028

Cascade County...... 27,438

Flathead County..... 41,830

Gallatin County..... 14,292

Glacier County...... 11,611

Hill County......... 7,483

Lake County......... 11,669

Lewis and Clark 20,055

County.

Lincoln County...... 13,819

[[Page 15506]]

Missoula County..... 34,935

Park County......... 6,910

Ravalli County...... 13,446

Roosevelt County.... 6,293

Rosebud County...... 7,942

Sanders County...... 8,429

Silver Bow County... 14,823

State Set-Aside 33,950

Committee, MT.

Yellowstone County.. 46,618

Nebraska.......................... Buffalo County...... 9,332

Douglas County...... 101,049

Lincoln County...... 10,364

Scotts Bluff County. 13,045

State Set-Aside 104,961

Committee, NE.

Nevada............................ Carson City......... 22,492

Churchill County.... 8,343

Clark County........ 394,231

Lyon County......... 11,884

State Set-Aside 78,180

Committee, NV.

New Hampshire..................... State Set-Aside 160,414

Committee, NH.

New Jersey........................ Atlantic County..... 151,594

Bergen County....... 347,943

Burlington County... 152,541

Camden County....... 229,234

Cape May County..... 78,399

Cumberland County... 91,946

Essex County........ 199,359

Gloucester County... 118,910

Hudson County....... 382,606

Mercer County....... 138,277

Middlesex County.... 299,505

Monmouth County..... 234,867

Newark City......... 212,791

Ocean County........ 181,899

Passaic County...... 282,159

State Set-Aside 184,931

Committee, NJ.

Union County........ 247,611

New Mexico........................ Bernalillo County... 171,219

Chaves County....... 28,470

Cibola County....... 17,446

Colfax County....... 9,261

Curry County........ 15,668

Dona Ana County..... 81,639

Eddy County......... 24,069

Grant County........ 12,328

Lea County.......... 19,711

Lincoln County...... 8,443

Luna County......... 37,114

McKinley County..... 29,631

Otero County........ 21,044

Rio Arriba County... 33,702

Roosevelt County.... 6,393

San Juan County..... 72,479

San Miguel County... 17,446

Sandoval County..... 23,624

Santa Fe County..... 41,085

Socorro County...... 7,239

State Set-Aside 11,894

Committee, NM.

Taos County......... 28,570

Torrance County..... 5,849

Valencia County..... 16,485

New York.......................... Albany County....... 91,473

Allegany County..... 25,760

Broome County....... 66,515

Cattaraugus County.. 42,547

Cayuga County....... 33,157

Chautauqua County... 54,144

Chemung County...... 28,312

Chenango County..... 24,140

Clinton County...... 40,282

Cortland County..... 22,148

Delaware County..... 16,055

Dutchess County..... 75,847

Erie County......... 339,901

[[Page 15507]]

Essex County........ 22,463

Franklin County..... 26,061

Fulton County....... 32,555

Greene County....... 21,746

Herkimer County..... 31,824

Jefferson County.... 54,517

Lewis County........ 14,378

Monroe County....... 196,908

Montgomery County... 30,176

Nassau County....... 410,645

New York City....... 3,852,175

Niagara County...... 95,974

Oneida County....... 81,338

Onondaga County..... 147,810

Orange County....... 102,955

Orleans County...... 22,105

Oswego County....... 68,250

Otsego County....... 23,768

Rensselaer County... 61,197

Schenectady County.. 55,563

St. Lawrence County. 61,254

State Set-Aside 235,865

Committee, NY.

Steuben County...... 44,969

Suffolk County...... 511,765

Sullivan County..... 29,588

Tompkins County..... 23,123

Warren County....... 32,641

Westchester County.. 271,666

Wyoming County...... 20,671

Yates County........ 8,243

North Carolina.................... Alleghany County.... 5,906

Anson County........ 13,231

Ashe County......... 16,170

Avery County........ 6,021

Beaufort County..... 25,259

Bertie County....... 8,888

Bladen County....... 16,442

Brunswick County.... 31,853

Buncombe County..... 48,180

Caswell County...... 6,150

Cherokee County..... 9,762

Chowan County....... 5,763

Cleveland County.... 45,213

Columbus County..... 26,835

Craven County....... 24,814

Cumberland County... 77,625

Duplin County....... 16,887

Durham County....... 44,984

Forsyth County...... 69,726

Franklin County..... 11,611

Gaston County....... 71,590

Graham County....... 7,899

Granville County.... 12,959

Halifax County...... 32,541

Harnett County...... 18,335

Haywood County...... 18,191

Hertford County..... 7,784

High Pt City/ 168,911

Davidson, Guilford.

Hoke County......... 9,418

Jackson County...... 12,529

Johnston County..... 20,127

Kannapolis/Cabarrus, 61,340

Rowan Cos.

Lee County.......... 18,134

Lenoir County....... 28,627

Macon County........ 7,311

Madison County...... 6,150

Martin County....... 14,579

Mitchell County.....

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