Through a national board chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and local boards, funds are provided to private nonprofit organizations and State and local governmental entities for the purpose of providing emergency food and shelter to needy individuals. The entity receiving these funds decides how they will be best used (e.g., to buy beds and blankets, to stock a soup kitchen or to pay an individual's rent). The Federal funds are not provided to meet ongoing basic needs.

Assistance involving FEMA funds is subject to the general rules pertaining to income and income exclusions. It is neither IBON (SI 00830.170) nor ABON (SI 00830.175).

Determine the nature of the assistance and apply the appropriate operating instructions pertaining to income and income exclusions. Related sections include:

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  SI 00815.050 (Medical and Social Services)

  SI 00830.605 (Home Energy Assistance and Support and Maintenance Assistance)

  SI 00835.300 ff. (Presumed Maximum Value)

  SI 00810.420 ($20 General Income Exclusion)

NOTE: Assistance involving FEMA funds is most often provided in kind by private nonprofit organizations and with State certification will qualify for exclusion as HEA/SMA (see SI 00830.605).