Responding to the needs of migrant host communities throughout the country, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) this week announced more than $77 million would go to border and interior communities housing those awaiting immigration proceedings.
It’s an extension of the Shelter and Services Program (SSP), and in all, 53 recipients will receive grants for temporary shelter and other eligible costs related to migrants in their communities. Notably, while dispatching funds to SSP in this latest round, DHS amended the cap on hotels/motels and airfare to 10 percent of the total funding requested by applicants. Recipients also will be able to apply for a waiver of caps based on operational need.
Another more than $290 million was provided for the same concerns in June. In all, 69 communities have received funding through the SSP and Emergency Food and Shelter Program – Humanitarian Awards (EFSP-H) this year. DHS requested another $600 million in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget supplemental to be able to provide further support.
SSP itself was created for these purposes on Dec. 29, 2022, as part of the Bipartisan Year-End Omnibus. Money flowed from Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to create the program, with a portion of the $800 million allocated to the EFSP-H until SSP was up and running. To date, EFSP has provided more than $400 million in support for communities receiving migrants nationwide.