Kitsap County’s share of federal money to help those struggling in the recession is expected to be less this year compared to last.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program is expected to give almost $4.5 million to the state, with about $133,700 to Kitsap, according to a statement this week from the state Department of Social and Health Services.

The money is divided among social service organizations to help people with food, housing and utility bills and is allocated based on poverty rates and other indicators of need.

But that number is about $23,000 less than the county received last year in the same grant, said David Foote, executive director of United Way of Kitsap County.

Foote said he had not been notified of the award, and said the board that divides the grant among social service organizations that apply will meet in the coming weeks.

“It’s concerning, absolutely,” Foote said, noting that the effects of the recession are still being felt by families and the food banks and soup kitchens that serve them.

In 2009 the grant was about $157,000. Another grant later in 2009, from federal stimulus money, totaled almost $73,000, Foote said.

Some of the organizations that received money from the award include the Central Kitsap Food Bank in Silverdale and God’s Kitchen outside Bremerton.