DeGette, Caraveo, Goldman Urge FEMA to Swiftly Distribute Shelter and Services Program Funding

WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01), Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo (CO-08), and Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) led 29 members of Congress in calling on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to swiftly distribute funding from the Shelter and Services Program (SSP).

“Utilizing SSP funding, which provides direct assistance through grants, border and interior communities across the nation have been afforded a critical lifeline as they care for asylum seekers, many of whom are families with children,” the members wrote. “Because approval of the final fiscal year 24 spending package was significantly delayed, the last FY23 SSP award was allocated in September of last year. Since then, impacted communities have faced difficult budget decisions to cover the unmet need.

“We urge your prompt assistance to ensure timely release of federal funding to augment the efforts provided by states, cities, and nonprofits across the country,” the members concluded.

The SSP was created in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY23 to provide communities in the United States with the funding necessary to care for newly processed asylum seekers once they are released from federal custody. The SSP provides communities and NGOs direct assistance through grants, rather than subjecting them to a lengthy reimbursement process. Through direct grant assistance, which is disbursed upfront, state agencies and NGOs will be able to better plan for securing and maintaining shelter space, providing orientation services, and arranging transportation – creating a vastly superior alternative to submitting reimbursement requests and waiting to be repaid.

Impacted border and interior communities have faced difficult budget decisions in continuing to provide vital support for a humane response through safe housing and access to appropriate social and legal services for asylum seekers. It is critical FEMA expeditiously distribute SSP funding to state and local entities so communities can continue to support their newest arrivals.

Since December of 2022, Denver has served nearly 41,000 asylum seekers, spending $68 million in essential services.

The full letter can be found here.

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