Emergency Solution Grant (ESG)

The Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program is a federal grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Its primary goal is to help people regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness.

Key Components of ESG Program

1. Homelessness Prevention: ESG funds can be used to provide housing relocation and stabilization services as well as short-term rental assistance to individuals and families who are at risk of becoming homeless.
2. Emergency Shelter: ESG funds support the operation of emergency shelters and can also be used for essential services provided to individuals and families in shelters, such as case management, child care, education services, employment assistance, and legal services.
3. Street Outreach: The program funds outreach services to engage unsheltered homeless people and connect them to emergency shelters, housing, or critical services.
4. Rapid Rehousing: ESG provides short- and medium-term rental assistance and supportive services to help homeless individuals and families quickly regain stable housing.
5. Target Population: The ESG program serves individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, focusing on stabilizing their housing situation.

ESG funding helps communities and organizations provide essential services, from emergency shelter to housing assistance, to reduce homelessness and support long-term housing stability.

• Homeless Management Information System: Grant funds may be used for certain Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and comparable database costs, as specified at 24 CFR 576.107.

Eligible Recipients

In general, to be eligible for ESG assistance, the individual or family:

• Must meet the definition of homeless or at-risk of homeless
• Must be prioritized by the CoC or ESG recipient’s written standards for administering assistance
• Must meet any additional eligibility criteria established by the recipient or subrecipient in the grant agreement or sub-recipient agreement (e.g., veterans or families with children or survivors of domestic violence