Nonprofit agencies in many parts of the state will soon share $605,339 to be used for emergency food and shelter programs. Oxford County will receive $34,425, Franklin County will receive $16,977 and Androscoggin County will receive $53,078

The award comes from the Department of Homeland Security and will be administered by the United Way, said James McIntyre, a spokesman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Washington.

A spokeswoman for U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe’s office said the amount for each county is determined by population, unemployment and poverty levels. She said advertisements will soon appear in local newspapers informing qualified nonprofit organizations of the funding available.

The program overseeing the distribution of funds, the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, has administered the program for nearly 22 years, according to a press release issued by Snowe and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.

All but four counties in the state – Knox, Hancock, Lincoln and Sagadahoc – will receive funding.

The state’s share is part of $153 million to be distributed nationally, according to the EFSP Web site, efsp.unitedway.org.

Last year, Maine received $558,615 from the Emergency Food and Shelter Program. The program was created in 1983 to supplement the efforts of local social service organizations to help people in need of emergency assistance.