On April 12, 2024, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) for Shelter and Services Program (SSP) funding included in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 appropriations bills passed by Congress in March 2024.
SSP, which replaced the Emergency Food and Shelter Program – Humanitarian (EFSP-H) in FY 2023, is a federal grant program administered by FEMA and designed in partnership with United States (US) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to “reliev[e] overcrowding in short-term [CBP] holding facilities” by funding government and non-governmental organizations providing services (such as sheltering and feeding) to migrants released in the US by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
What Was Announced
FEMA released two FY 2024 SSP NOFOs, dividing a total of $640.9 million to be awarded by September 30, 2024, via two SSP funding models:
SSP – Allocated (SSP-A). The FY 2024 SSP-A NOFO allocates $275 million to recipients selected by DHS, with an additional $25 million set aside for an SSP-A reserve funding round to be allocated later in FY 2024.
SSP – Competitive (SSP-C). The FY 2024 SSP-C NOFO makes $340.9 million available to eligible government and non-governmental organizations via a competitive application process.
Key Takeaways
The SSP-A round of FY 2024 funding, announced rapidly after Congressional appropriations to the program, largely focuses on continued funding for existing recipients.
- Of the 55 recipients named in the FY 2024 SSP-A NOFO:
- 51 out of 55 recipients also received FY 2023 SSP.
- 41 recipient entities are located in states on the US-Mexico border (75 percent), while 14 are located in interior states (25 percent).
- Border entities received 60 percent of the total allocation, while interior entities received 40 percent.
- 20 recipients are government entities (36 percent), while 35 are non-governmental (64 percent).
- Government entities received 64 percent of the total allocation, while non-governmental entities received 36 percent.
- If a recipient named in the FY 2024 SSP-A NOFO does not apply for or is otherwise not awarded all or a portion of the allocated funds, those funds will be reallocated during the SSP-A reserve funding round.
The SSP-C round of FY 2024 funding is the first time competitive SSP funding has been made available, enabling a broader pool of entities to apply.
- FY 2023 SSP rounds (also known as “tranches”) and SSP-A allocations utilized CBP migrant encounter data and EFSP-H recipient data to determine awards.
- SSP-A recipients may also apply for SSP-C.
- FY 2024 SSP-C awards are capped at $34,090,000 (10 percent of total SSP-C funds).
FEMA will use a weighted scoring system to rank SSP-C applications and inform funding allocations.
- Scoring criteria include the percentage of an applicant’s humanitarian services budget reserved for migrant services; an applicant’s capacity to serve; the type(s) of services an applicant will provide; the applicant’s recent history of migrant services; and the applicant’s proximity to jurisdictions experiencing high numbers of migrant releases.
- Applicants will be awarded bonus points for each sub-applicant (up to five) included in their application.
What’s Changed?
FEMA released a list of key changes for FY 2024 SSP. These include:
- Removing the limit on how long services may be provided to migrants following their release from DHS custody, previously limited to 45 days post-release.
- Establishing an acceptable margin of error of less than five percent for reporting Alien Registration Numbers (A-Numbers) of migrants served, which DHS uses to confirm services have been provided to the eligible migrant population.
- Eliminating the cap on eligible hotel/motel and transportation expenses (previously each limited to 10 percent of a recipient’s total award) and reducing the minimum average occupancy of vehicles transporting migrants to final destinations and between shelter providers from 75 percent to 66 percent.
- Clarifying that internet and cell phone costs can be included in utility costs and Shelter Per Diem is available the first through the last days of a migrant’s stay at a shelter.
- Introducing administrative changes to the application process which allow for applicants to include additional supporting details for budget requests, and coordination of budget amendments throughout the grant’s Period of Performance.
Key Takeaways
These changes underscore an effort to make funds available and more easily accessible and indicate that FEMA is recognizing and responding to the suggestions and distinct challenges of interior and border jurisdictions.
Expanding eligible expenses and removing the service provision timeline addresses the needs of interior jurisdictions facing longer-term stays while lifting the transportation cap allows border agencies to better utilize their funds to assist migrants in reaching their final destinations.
Administrative improvements and the introduction of a codified A-Number reporting margin of error recognize that service providers throughout the US vary in size, capacity, and familiarity with FEMA grant programs.
How to Apply?
Eligible entities named in the SSP-A NOFO can submit SSP-A applications until April 26, 2024, through the FEMA Grants Outcomes (GO) web portal.
SSP-C applications are due in FEMA GO by June 13, 2024.
Regardless of which SSP award(s) an entity seeks, the multi-step application process can take time to complete and verify. Steps include:
- Registering online in the Federal Government’s System for Award Management (SAM.gov) to obtain a Unique Entity ID (UEI). It can take up to 30 days to receive a UEI after registering.
- Registering in the FEMA GO system.
- Completing application materials and ancillary documentation (available on grants.gov).
- Submitting a final application via FEMA GO.
Hagerty Can Help
If you have any questions about SSP or need assistance in preparing your grant application or establishing your grant management infrastructure, please contact us below and one of our experts will be in touch.
Nick O’Neil is a Response professional with experience in emergency management, disaster response, and project management. At Hagerty, Nick has supported multiple clients in response roles, including vaccine clinic planning and operations for a state health department during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also served as an emergency response planner and Planning Section Chief for a state interagency humanitarian mission.
Melanie Purcell is a Response professional with more than 25 years of experience in local government management, specializing in strategic budgeting and financial management. At Hagerty, Melanie serves as a finance and management project-specific consultant, supporting over 1,250 clients daily. She is also a frequent author and speaker for various professional associations, including the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).