Emergency Solutions Grant Program

Objective

The ESG program provides funding to: (1) engage homeless individuals and families living on the street; (2) improve the number and quality of emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families; (3) help operate these shelters; (4) provide essential services to shelter residents, (5) rapidly re-house homeless individuals and families, and (6) prevent families and individuals from becoming homeless.

Who Can Apply

• U.S. State Government (including the District of Columbia)
• U.S. Territory (or Possession) Government (including freely-associated states)
• Department or Agency of a U.S. State Government
• Department or Agency of a U.S. Territorial Government
• County Government (inclusive of boroughs in Alaska, parishes and other governmental entities with geographic regional control and authority)
• Other Local Government Consortium, Regional Organization (Intrastate), or Other Local Government Combination
• Municipality or Township government (inclusive of cities, towns, boroughs (except in Alaska), and villages)
• Tribally Designated Housing Authority
• Nonprofit Organization

Eligible recipients generally consist of metropolitan cities, urban counties, territories, and states, as defined in 24 CFR 576.2. Metropolitan cities, urban counties and territories may subgrant ESG funds to private nonprofit organizations. Local governments may also subgrant ESG funds to public housing agencies or local redevelopment authorities. States must subgrant all of their ESG funds (except for funds for administrative costs and, under certain conditions, HMIS costs) to units of general purpose local government and/or private nonprofit organizations. Each recipient must consult with the Continuum(s) of Care operating within the jurisdiction in determining how to allocate ESG funds.

Who Benefits

• U.S. State Government (including the District of Columbia)
• U.S. Territory (or Possession) Government (including freely-associated states)
• Unrestricted by Individual Type

The minimum eligibility criteria for ESG beneficiaries are as follows: For essential services related to street outreach, beneficiaries must meet the criteria under paragraph (1)(i) of the “homeless” definition under § 576.2. For emergency shelter, beneficiaries must meet the “homeless” definition in 24 CFR 576.2. For essential services related to emergency shelter, beneficiaries must be “homeless” and staying in an emergency shelter (which could include a day shelter). For homelessness prevention assistance, beneficiaries must meet the requirements described in 24 CFR 576.103. For rapid re-housing assistance, beneficiaries must meet requirements described in 24 CFR 576.104. Further eligibility criteria may be established at the local level in accordance with 24 CFR 576.400(e).

Assistance Types

• Grant

Program Contact

Karen.M.DeBlasio@hud.gov
(202) 402-4773