The ESG program provides grant funding to approved units of general-purpose local government and federally recognized non-profit organizations.
These ESG funds are used to:
- Engage homeless individuals and families living on the street;
- Rapidly re-house homeless individuals and families;
- Help operate and provide essential services in emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families; and
- Prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless
Notice of Funding Availability
| Year | Document Name | Link |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | NOFA - Amended March 5, 2025 | Download |
| 2024 | 3-Year ESG Resolution Template | Download |
| 2024 | 1-Year ESG Resolution Template | Download |
| 2024 | Exhibit A | Download |
| 2024 | Exhibit B | Download |
| 2024 | Exhibit D | Download |
| 2024 | Exhibit E | Download |
Program Overview
The federal ESG program provides funds for a variety of activities to address homelessness as authorized under the federal Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2009 and State program requirements. HCD administers the ESG program with funding received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
HCD distributes federal Emergency Solutions Grants funds to eligible subrecipients.
HCD subgrants its funding to subrecipients in Continuum of Care (CoC) service areas that have at least one jurisdiction that does not receive ESG funds directly from HUD (“Nonentitlement”).
State ESG funded activities may serve the entire service area of the CoC but must serve Nonentitlement areas within the service area. For a list of CoC Service Areas eligible to participate in the program, refer to Appendix A of the current NOFA.
ESG funds may be used for four primary activities: Street Outreach, Rapid Re-Housing Assistance, Emergency Shelter, and Homelessness Prevention. In addition, ESG funds may be used for associated Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) costs and administrative activities for some subrecipients. Refer to the current Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for any limitations on these activities.
ESG Allocation
HCD allocates its funding to the State's Continuum of Care (CoC) service areas using a single, direct-allocation method. This method of distribution is detailed in the ESG Program Final Guidelines dated December 10, 2024 and in the ESG NOFA.
ESG CARES Act (ESG-CV) Allocation
Before the ESG-CV program ended on June 30, 2024, ESG-CV funds were distributed to CoC Service Areas to either currently approved units of general-purpose local government, known as Administrative Entities (AEs), or directly to the CoC, assuming the CoC was a state and federally recognized non-profit organization and had capacity to administer the funding. If the CoC did not meet these requirements, the CoC had to designate an AE to administer the funding for that CoC Service area.