In addition to our 2 key national initiatives of Early Learning and 2-1-1, United Way supports a variety of local and national programs. Two very important ones include Crisis Preparedness and Response and Emergency Food and Shelter. Learn more about them below:

| The Emergency Food and Shelter Program Website |

Since 1983, Congress has appropriated $2.19 billion for the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program (EFSP). The National Board is composed of six voluntary agencies including United Way of America. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the federal agency that chairs the program. The National Board uses specific selection criteria to award grants to those civil jursidictions in greatest need of help.

Natural and other disasters can wreak havoc on small towns and big cities around the country. From hurricanes in the South to blizzards in the North, the best way to mitigate the devastating effects of disasters is to be thoroughly prepared for the worst case scenario and respond to the disaster as quickly as possible given the severity and risks involved.

United Ways locally and nationally supports efforts to prepare for and respond to natural and other disasters. United Way works with partners such as the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) and the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS). Currently, United Way is working in collaboration with several national disaster relief providers to further develop and implement the Community Assistance Network (CAN), an information sharing system which allows participating agencies – national and local – to share client information and eligibility verification, as well as track the services needed by those clients. The overarching goal of CAN is to reduce obstacles in obtaining assistance from multiple agencies, particularly in the relief efforts following major disasters.

Currently, 2-1-1 is a resource of particular importance during times of crisis for people to get connected to the help they need. 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember three-digit dialing system (similar to 9-1-1 and 4-1-1) that makes a simple but critical connection between individuals and families seeking services or volunteer opportunities and the appropriate community-based organizations and government agencies. 2-1-1 is active and running in nearly 50% of the United States.