42 U.S.C.
United States Code, 2008 Edition
Title 42 - THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
CHAPTER 119 - HOMELESS ASSISTANCE
SUBCHAPTER III - FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM
From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov

SUBCHAPTER III—FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM

Part A—Administrative Provisions

§11331. Emergency Food and Shelter Program National Board

(a) Establishment

There is established to carry out the provisions of this subchapter the Emergency Food and Shelter Program National Board. The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall constitute the National Board in accordance with subsection (b) of this section in administering the program under this subchapter.

(b) Members

The National Board shall consist of the Director and 6 members appointed by the Director. The initial members of the National Board shall be appointed by the Director not later than 30 days after July 22, 1987. Each such member shall be appointed from among individuals nominated by 1 of the following organizations:

(1) The United Way of America.

(2) The Salvation Army.

(3) The National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.

(4) Catholic Charities U.S.A.

(5) The Council of Jewish Federations, Inc.

(6) The American Red Cross.

(c) Chairperson

The Director shall be the Chairperson of the National Board.

(d) Other activities

Except as otherwise specifically provided in this subchapter, the National Board shall establish its own procedures and policies for the conduct of its affairs.

(e) Transfers from previous national board

Upon the appointment of members to the National Board under subsection (b) of this section—

(1) the national board constituted under the emergency food and shelter program established pursuant to section 101(g) of Public Law 99–500 or Public Law 99–591 shall cease to exist; and

(2) the personnel, property, records, and undistributed program funds of such national board shall be transferred to the National Board.

(Pub. L. 100–77, title III, §301, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 489; Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, §612(c), Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1410.)

References in Text

The emergency food and shelter program established pursuant to section 101(g) of Public Law 99–500 or Public Law 99–591, referred to in subsec. (e)(1), means the emergency food and shelter program authorized by title II of H.R. 5313 [Department of Housing and Urban Development—Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1987], as incorporated by reference by section 101(g) of Pub. L. 99–500, Oct. 18, 1986, 100 Stat. 1783–242, and Pub. L. 99–591, Oct. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 3341–242, which is not classified to the Code.

Change of Name

“Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency” substituted for “Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency” in subsec. (a) on authority of section 612(c) of Pub. L. 109–295, set out as a note under section 313 of Title 6, Domestic Security. Any reference to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in title VI of Pub. L. 109–295 or an amendment by title VI to be considered to refer and apply to the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency until Mar. 31, 2007, see section 612(f)(2) of Pub. L. 109–295, set out as a note under section 313 of Title 6.

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of all functions, personnel, assets, components, authorities, grant programs, and liabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the functions of the Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management relating thereto, to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, see section 315(a)(1) of Title 6, Domestic Security.

For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the functions of the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see former section 313(1) and sections 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

§11332. Local boards

(a) Establishment

Each locality designated by the National Board shall constitute a local board for the purpose of determining how program funds allotted to the locality will be distributed. The local board shall consist, to the extent practicable, of representatives of the same organizations as the National Board, except that the mayor or other appropriate heads of government will replace the Federal members, and except that each local board administering program funds for a locality within which is located a reservation (as such term is defined in section 1452(d) of title 25,1 or a portion thereof, shall include a board member who is a member of an Indian tribe (as such term is defined in section 5302(a)(17) of this title.1 The chairperson of the local board shall be elected by a majority of the members of the local board. Local boards are encouraged to expand participation of other private nonprofit organizations on the local board.

(b) Responsibilities

Each local board shall—

(1) determine which private nonprofit organizations or public organizations of the local government in the individual locality shall receive grants to act as service providers;

(2) monitor recipient service providers for program compliance;

(3) reallocate funds among service providers;

(4) ensure proper reporting; and

(5) coordinate with other Federal, State, and local government assistance programs available in the locality.

(Pub. L. 100–77, title III, §302, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 490; Pub. L. 101–645, title II, §202(a), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4675.)

Amendments

1990—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–645 inserted before period at end of second sentence “, and except that each local board administering program funds for a locality within which is located a reservation (as such term is defined in section 1452(d) of title 25, or a portion thereof, shall include a board member who is a member of an Indian tribe (as such term is defined in section 5302(a)(17) of this title”.

Implementation of 1990 Amendment

Section 202(b) of Pub. L. 101–645 provided that: “Each local board under the Emergency Food and Shelter Program whose membership shall include a member of an Indian tribe by reason of the amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall comply with the requirement made by such amendment not later than the expiration of the 30-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 29, 1990].”

1 So in original. A closing parenthesis probably should precede the punctuation.

§11333. Role of Federal Emergency Management Agency

(a) In general

The Director shall provide the National Board with administrative support and act as Federal liaison to the National Board.

(b) Specific support activities

The Director shall—

(1) make available to the National Board, upon request, the services of the legal counsel and Inspector General of the Federal Emergency Management Agency;

(2) assign clerical personnel to the National Board on a temporary basis; and

(3) conduct audits of the National Board annually and at such other times as may be appropriate.

(Pub. L. 100–77, title III, §303, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 490.)

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of all functions, personnel, assets, components, authorities, grant programs, and liabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the functions of the Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management relating thereto, to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, see section 315(a)(1) of Title 6, Domestic Security.

For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the functions of the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see former section 313(1) and sections 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

§11334. Records and audit of National Board and recipients of assistance

(a) Annual independent audit of National Board

(1) The accounts of the National Board shall be audited annually in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by independent certified public accountants or independent licensed public accountants certified or licensed by a regulatory authority of a State or other political subdivision of the United States. The audits shall be conducted at the place or places where the accounts of the National Board are normally kept. All books, accounts, financial records, reports, files, and all other papers, things, or property belonging to or in use by the National Board and necessary to facilitate the audits shall be made available to the person or persons conducting the audits, and full facilities for verifying transactions with any assets held by depositories, fiscal agents, and custodians shall be afforded to such person or persons.

(2) The report of each such independent audit shall be included in the annual report required in section 11335 of this title. Such report shall set forth the scope of the audit and include such statements as are necessary to present fairly the assets and liabilities of the National Board, surplus or deficit, with an analysis of the changes during the year, supplemented in reasonable detail by a statement of the income and expenses of the National Board during the year, and a statement of the application of funds, together with the opinion of the independent auditor of such statements.

(b) Access to records of recipients of assistance

(1) Each recipient of assistance under this subchapter shall keep such records as may be reasonably necessary to fully disclose the amount and the disposition by such recipient of the proceeds of such assistance, the total cost of the project or undertaking in connection with which such assistance is given or used, and the amount and nature of that portion of the cost of the project or undertaking supplied by other sources, and such other records as will facilitate an effective audit.

(2) The National Board, or any of its duly authorized representatives, shall have access for the purpose of audit and examination to any books, documents, papers, and records of the recipient that are pertinent to assistance received under this subchapter.

(c) Authority of Comptroller General

The Comptroller General of the United States, or any of the duly authorized representatives of the Comptroller General, shall also have access to any books, documents, papers, and records of the National Board and recipients for such purpose.

(Pub. L. 100–77, title III, §304, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 491.)

§11335. Annual report

The National Board shall transmit to the Congress an annual report covering each year in which it conducts activities with funds made available under this subchapter.

(Pub. L. 100–77, title III, §305, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 491.)

Termination of Reporting Requirements

For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions of law requiring submittal to Congress of any annual, semiannual, or other regular periodic report listed in House Document No. 103–7 (in which a report required under this section is listed in the 4th item on page 169), see section 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66, as amended, set out as a note under section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance.

Part B—Emergency Food and Shelter Grants

§11341. Grants by Director

Not later than 30 days following the date on which appropriations become available to carry out this part, the Director shall award a grant for the full amount that the Congress appropriates for the program under this part to the National Board for the purpose of providing emergency food and shelter to needy individuals through private nonprofit organizations and local governments in accordance with section 11343 of this title.

(Pub. L. 100–77, title III, §311, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 492.)

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of all functions, personnel, assets, components, authorities, grant programs, and liabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the functions of the Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management relating thereto, to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, see section 315(a)(1) of Title 6, Domestic Security.

For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the functions of the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see former section 313(1) and sections 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

§11342. Retention of interest earned

Interest accrued on the balance of any grant to the National Board shall be available to the National Board for reallocation, and total administrative costs shall be determined based on total amount of funds available, including interest and any private contributions that are made to the National Board.

(Pub. L. 100–77, title III, §312, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 492.)

§11343. Purposes of grants

(a) Eligible activities

Grants to the National Board may be used—

(1) to supplement and expand ongoing efforts to provide shelter, food, and supportive services for homeless individuals with sensitivity to the transition from temporary shelter to permanent homes, and attention to the special needs of homeless individuals with mental and physical disabilities and illnesses, and to facilitate access for homeless individuals to other sources of services and benefits;

(2) to strengthen efforts to create more effective and innovative local programs by providing funding for them; and

(3) to conduct minimum rehabilitation of existing mass shelter or mass feeding facilities, but only to the extent necessary to make facilities safe, sanitary, and bring them into compliance with local building codes.

(b) Limitations on activities

(1) The National Board may only provide funding provided under this part for—

(A) programs undertaken by private nonprofit organizations and local governments; and

(B) programs that are consistent with the purposes of this subchapter.


(2) The National Board may not carry out programs directly.

(Pub. L. 100–77, title III, §313, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 492.)

§11344. Limitation on certain costs

Not more than 5 percent of the total amount appropriated for the emergency food and shelter program for each fiscal year may be expended for the costs of administration.

(Pub. L. 100–77, title III, §314, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 492.)

§11345. Disbursement of funds

Any amount made available by appropriation Acts under this subchapter shall be disbursed by the National Board before the expiration of the 3-month period beginning on the date on which such amount becomes available.

(Pub. L. 100–77, title III, §315, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 492.)

§11346. Program guidelines

(a) Guidelines

The National Board shall establish written guidelines for carrying out the program under this part, including—

(1) methods for identifying localities with the highest need for emergency food and shelter assistance;

(2) methods for determining the amount and distribution to such localities;

(3) eligible program costs, including maximum flexibility in meeting currently existing needs;

(4) guidelines specifying the responsibilities and reporting requirements of the National Board, its recipients, and service providers;

(5) guidelines requiring each private nonprofit organization and local government carrying out a local emergency food and shelter program with amounts provided under this part, to the maximum extent practicable, to involve homeless individuals and families, through employment, volunteer services, or otherwise, in providing emergency food and shelter and in otherwise carrying out the local program; and

(6) guidelines requiring each private nonprofit organization and local government carrying out a local emergency food and shelter program with amounts provided under this part to provide for the participation of not less than 1 homeless individual or former homeless individual on the board of directors or other equivalent policy making entity of the organization or governmental agency to the extent that such entity considers and makes policies and decisions regarding the local program of the organization or locality; except that such guidelines may grant waivers to applicants unable to meet such requirement if the organization or government agrees to otherwise consult with homeless or formerly homeless individuals in considering and making such policies and decisions.

(b) Publication

Guidelines established under subsection (a) of this section shall be published annually, and whenever modified, in the Federal Register. The National Board shall not be subject to the procedural rulemaking requirements of subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 5.

(Pub. L. 100–77, title III, §316, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 493; Pub. L. 102–550, title XIV, §1432, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4043.)

Amendments

1992—Subsec. (a)(5), (6). Pub. L. 102–550 added pars. (5) and (6).

Part C—General Provisions

§11351. Definitions

For purposes of this subchapter:

(1) The term “Director” means the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

(2) The term “emergency shelter” means a facility all or a part of which is used or designed to be used to provide temporary housing.

(3) The term “local government” means a unit of general purpose local government.

(4) The term “locality” means the geographical area within the jurisdiction of a local government.

(5) The term “National Board” means the Emergency Food and Shelter Program National Board.

(6) The term “private nonprofit organization” means an organization—

(A) no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any member, founder, contributor, or individual;

(B) that has a voluntary board;

(C) that has an accounting system, or has designated a fiscal agent in accordance with requirements established by the Director; and

(D) that practices nondiscrimination in the provision of assistance.


(7) The term “State” means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States.

(Pub. L. 100–77, title III, §321, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 493; Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, §612(c), Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1410.)

Change of Name

“Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency” substituted for “Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency” in par. (1) on authority of section 612(c) of Pub. L. 109–295, set out as a note under section 313 of Title 6, Domestic Security. Any reference to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in title VI of Pub. L. 109–295 or an amendment by title VI to be considered to refer and apply to the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency until Mar. 31, 2007, see section 612(f)(2) of Pub. L. 109–295, set out as a note under section 313 of Title 6.

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of all functions, personnel, assets, components, authorities, grant programs, and liabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the functions of the Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management relating thereto, to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, see section 315(a)(1) of Title 6, Domestic Security.

For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the functions of the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see former section 313(1) and sections 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

Termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see note set out preceding section 1681 of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions.

§11352. Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subchapter $180,000,000 for fiscal year 1993 and $187,560,000 for fiscal year 1994.

(Pub. L. 100–77, title III, §322, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 493; Pub. L. 100–628, title III, §302, Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3229; Pub. L. 101–645, title II, §201, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4675; Pub. L. 102–550, title XIV, §1431, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4043.)

Amendments

1992—Pub. L. 102–550 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subchapter $150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1991 and 1992.”

1990—Pub. L. 101–645 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subchapter $129,000,000 for fiscal year 1989 and $134,000,000 for fiscal year 1990.”

1988—Pub. L. 100–628 amended section generally, substituting “$129,000,000 for fiscal year 1989 and $134,000,000 for fiscal year 1990” for “$15,000,000 for fiscal year 1987 and $124,000,000 for fiscal year 1988”.