Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) agreed to sign a letter of request asking Congress to help release overdue Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) payments to nonprofit agencies in Thurston and Mason counties.
The appeal, prepared in coordination with United Way, was reviewed during a check-in meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 12.
The EFSP is authorized under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and administered by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with federal allocations distributed through local boards to nonprofit service providers.
In Thurston County, recipients include Catholic Community Services, Family Support Center, Interfaith Works, ROOF Community Services, Thurston County Food Bank, Salvation Army and Senior Services for South Sound.
Commissioner Emily Clouse, who drafted the letter, disclosed she worked with United Way to verify outstanding balances and confirm data with the EFSP.
“It took a little bit of time to get the numbers updated with EFSP, and they also coordinated with their partner organizations,” Clouse said.
The current freeze is linked to a Jan. 27 memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that temporarily halted the obligation and disbursement of federal financial assistance under an executive order.
Although the OMB later rescinded the directive, the EFSP national board said the action may have caused uncertainty for local boards and recipient organizations.
In the BOCC’s draft letter, EFSP payment freezes have left Thurston County organizations with $79,069 in unpaid expenses. That includes $16,540 for Senior Services for South Sound and $15,595 for Catholic Community Services.
Mason County’s agencies are also owed $157,590 in unpaid expenses dating back to November 2021, after the FSP national board assigned the county to the Thurston-Mason local board.
Meanwhile, allocations of $128,963 for Thurston County, as well as $28,627 for Mason County, were noted as approved but remain undistributed.
The board also urged coordination with FEMA and other lawmakers to end the EFSP funding freeze.
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Boatyarddog
Thanks Again BOCC for a Thankless Job... well done.
Thursday, August 14, 2025 Report this
chrispc2u
“Executive Order” by who? The orange, cult leading dotard, that’s who. Starve the poor, feed the rich. Oh, after the Big Beautiful tax bill for the rich they’ll be eating well tonight. How’re you liking beef and coffee prices? Well fasten your seat belts it’s about to get a whole lot higher as the global recession caused by Colonel McCankle’s tariffs kick in.
Thursday, August 14, 2025 Report this
Boatyarddog
We PROTEST these Poverty for ALL policies by The Trump Admistration of FEAR. He is A AUTHORITARIAN PIG, Cult Leader! If Republicans think GOOD Americans that disagree with Trumps Policies are Rebels, Corrupt or Not PATRIOTS, When the **** hits the Fan with enough people We WILL fight. ITS coming Folks! Everyday MORE VIOLATIONS OF public Safety, Security, and Peace of Mind.... go to Hell Trump!
Friday, August 15, 2025 Report this
OldKid
Boatyarddog,, you speak for most of us when you hold our "cult leading dotard"'s feet to the fire. How he sucks people in, I'll never understand!
Saturday, August 16, 2025 Report this