Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) Program

Information by State  Esta página en español  Print version   What's New 2009 Formula Grant Allocations The official 2009 formula grant allocation amounts are now posted on HUD’s web site. The announcement letters of these allocations are being mailed by HUD to the chief elected officials of each formula grantee. more... More News Stories... 2007 SuperNOFA Archive HUD's 2007 SuperNOFA competition has ended. To view archived forms, click here. HUD Resources   ESG Fact Sheet   ESG Desk Guide   Allocation History   ESG Evaluation   Monitoring Handbook   Homeless Assistance Listserv Sign-up Want More Information?   Laws   Regulations

The Emergency Shelter Grants program provides homeless persons with basic shelter and essential supportive services. It can assist with the operational costs of the shelter facility, and for the administration of the grant. ESG also provides short-term homeless prevention assistance to persons at imminent risk of losing their own housing due to eviction, foreclosure, or utility shutoffs.

Grantees, which are state governments, large cities, urban counties, and U.S. territories, receive ESG grants and make these funds available to eligible recipients, which can be either local government agencies or private nonprofit organizations. The recipient agencies and organizations, which actually run the homeless assistance projects, apply for ESG funds to the governmental grantee, and not directly to HUD. Feel free to view all CPD formula grants, including the ESG grant, or contact your local field office for further assistance.

ESG funds are available for the rehabilitation or remodeling of a building used as a new shelter, operations and maintenance of the facility, essential supportive services (i.e., case management, physical and mental health treatment, substance abuse counseling, childcare, etc.), homeless prevention, and grant administration.

Grantees, except for state governments, must match ESG grant funds dollar for dollar with their own locally generated amounts. These local amounts can come from the grantee or recipient agency or organization; other federal, state and local grants; and from "in-kind" contributions such as the value of a donated building, supplies and equipment, new staff services, and volunteer time.

For further details please consult the ESG Desk Guide.

Other Resources