Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program

Program Description

The Emergency Solutions Grants program, formerly the Emergency Shelter Grants Program, is a competitive grant that awards funds to private nonprofit organizations, cities, and counties in the State of Texas to provide the services necessary to help persons that are at-risk of homelessness or homeless quickly regain stability in permanent housing. The ESG program is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Eligible Activities

The ESG program provides funding to:

  • Engage homeless individuals and families living on the street;
  • Improve the number and quality of emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families;
  • Help operate these shelters;
  • Provide essential services to shelter residents;
  • Rapidly re-house homeless individuals and families; and
  • Prevent families and individuals from becoming homeless.

Applying for Funding

  • TDHCA releases a Notice and Funding Availability (NOFA) every year with guidelines to apply for ESG funds. This year TDHCA has approved the El Paso Coalition for the Homeless to administer the process locally
  • Eligible applicant organizations include units of general purpose local governments and private nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
  • ESG is a complex program with different requirements including specific eligibility, reporting, and environmental requirements. Organizations interested in applying for ESG funds for the first time are invited to carefully review all program requirements found on HUD’s Homelessness Resource Exchange website.

ESG 2017/2018 NOFA and Application Timetable

Date(s) * Activity
  • February 20, 2017
 The NOFA, Application Guide, and Intent to Apply are available at www.epchomeless.org
  • March 1, 2017
 Deadline to submit an Intent to Apply,
  • March 24, 2017
 The deadline to submit 2017/2018 ESG Applications by 5:00 p.m., with the exception of Attachment G: Local Government Approval.
  • May 1, 2017
 Attachment G: Local Government Approval due by 4:00 pm
  • April – May 2017
 Review of Applications, Deficiency Process, Previous Participation Review Process, Scoring Notices, and Appeals Process
  • June/July 2017
 Department’s Board to hear Applicant Appeals, if necessary
  • June/July 2017
 Department’s Board approval of PY 2017/2018 ESG awards
  • July/August 2017
 Department’s notification to awarded Subrecipients;  Subrecipients that are units of general purpose local government must obligate ESG funds within 120 days of receipt of the TDHCA award letter
  • August 2017
 TDHCA and awarded ESG Subrecipients will execute PY 2017 contracts and  contract implementation webinars will be conducted for awarded Subrecipients
  • September 1, 2017
 PY2017 ESG contract start date *
  • August 31, 2018
 PY2017 ESG contract end date; funds are recaptured upon contract end*
  • August 2018
 TDHCA and awarded ESG Subrecipients will execute PY 2018 contracts*
  • September 1, 2018
 PY2018 ESG contract start date *
  • January/February 2019
 PY2017 recaptured funds are allocated per the NOFA*
  • August 31, 2019
 PY2018 ESG contract end date*

* The due dates of the application may change depending on federal allocation dates.  TDHCA will require applications to be submitted no sooner than 30 days after Texas’s 2017 ESG allocation is announced by HUD.  

Notice of Funding Availability and Application Guide

Application Forms and Attachments

Regulations (links to www.hudexchange.info)

 

Client Eligibility and Documentation

 

HMIS Data Collection Requirements