The National Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) began in 1983 with a $50 million federal appropriation. The program was created by Congress to help meet the needs of hungry and homeless people throughout the United States and its territories by allocating federal funds for the provision of food and shelter.

The program's objectives are:
1. to allocate funds to the neediest areas,
2. to ensure fast response,
3. to foster public/private sector cooperation,
4. to ensure local decision making, and
5. to maintain minimal, but accountable, reporting.

Local boards are set up locally for each county. Benton, Carroll and Madison counties have boards that oversee the EFSP program.

Program funds are used to provide the following, as determined by the Local Board in funded jurisdictions:

1. Food, in the form of served meals or groceries.
2. Lodging in a mass shelter or hotel.
3. One month's rent or mortgage payment.
4. One month's utility bill.
5. Minimal repairs to allow a mass feeding or sheltering facility to function during the program year.
6. Equipment necessary to feed or shelter people, up to a $300 limit per item.

Over a dozen agencies have been selected to provide EFSP services. Here is the list of providers:

Benton County

Office of Human Concern - Utilities
Salvation Army - Shelter, Utilities
Benton County Women's Shelter - Rental Assistance
Restoration Ministries - Rental Assistance
The Society of St. Vincent DePaul - Rental Assistance
Manna Center - Rental Assistance
Samaritan Community Center - Food
Genesis House - Rental  Assistance 

Carroll County

Salvation Army - Rental Assistance
Loaves & Fishes - Food
Wildflowers Christian Ministries - Rental, Utilities
Beth'El Baptist Church - Food
Eureka Kids  - Food   

Madison County

Salvation Army - Utilities
Project Focus - Food                                                                                                                      

Assistance requests are subject to guidelines established for federal government funds, as well as any restrictions placed by local boards and / or the local agency.