Emergency Solutions Grants Program (ESG)
The ESG program provides grant funding to (1) engage homeless individuals and families living on the street, (2) rapidly re-house homeless individuals and families, (3) help operate and provide essential services in emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families, and (4) prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless.
Contact Us
Application, General Program, and Standard Agreements Questions
2022 ESG NOFA for the Continuum of Care (CoC) Allocation & Application
- 2022 ESG Continuum of Care Resolution Template (PDF)
- 2022 ESG Continuum of Care (CoC) NOFA (PDF)
- Notice of Extending the 2022 CoC Application Due Date (PDF)
- 2022 ESG Continuum of Care (CoC) NOFA Application Webinar
- 2022 ESG Continuum of Care (CoC) FAQs (PDF)
2022 ESG NOFA for the Balance of State (BoS) Allocation & Applications and Recommendation Package
Apply Now
To apply for the 2022 ESG BoS and CoC NOFAs, including the BoS Recommendation Package please visit: eCivis portal - Programs Available for Solicitation.
Webinars/Trainings
Trainings
- Financial Management Indirect Costs Long
- Financial Management Indirect Costs Short
- LL Workshop Pre-session
- Monitoring Best Practices
- ESG & ESG-CV Financial Management
- ESG & ESG-CV Foundations
- Leveraging and Braining Funds
- ESG Landlord Engagement and Incentives Foundation
- Racial Equity
- Grant Management Principles
- Homelessness 101
- Homeless Program and Services 101
- ESG & ESG-CV Deep Dive — ES & SO
- ESG & ESG-CV Deep Dive RRH
2022 ESG NOFA for the Continuum of Care (CoC) Allocation & Application
- 2022 ESG Continuum of Care Resolution Template (PDF)
- 2022 ESG Continuum of Care (CoC) NOFA (PDF)
- Notice of Extending the 2022 CoC Application Due Date (PDF)
- 2022 ESG Continuum of Care (CoC) NOFA Application Webinar
- 2022 ESG Continuum of Care (CoC) FAQs (PDF)
2022 ESG NOFA for the Balance of State (BoS) Allocation & Applications and Recommendation Package
Apply Now
To apply for the 2022 ESG BoS and CoC NOFAs, including the BoS Recommendation Package please visit: eCivis portal - Programs Available for Solicitation.
Webinars/Trainings
Trainings
- Financial Management Indirect Costs Long
- Financial Management Indirect Costs Short
- LL Workshop Pre-session
- Monitoring Best Practices
- ESG & ESG-CV Financial Management
- ESG & ESG-CV Foundations
- Leveraging and Braining Funds
- ESG Landlord Engagement and Incentives Foundation
- Racial Equity
- Grant Management Principles
- Homelessness 101
- Homeless Program and Services 101
- ESG & ESG-CV Deep Dive — ES & SO
- ESG & ESG-CV Deep Dive RRH
Purpose
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 Grant funds to eligible subrecipients with one- or two-year grants.
Application Process and Distribution of Funds
HCD allocates its funding to the State's CoC service areas using a single, direct-allocation method. This method of distribution was approved in the Executive Order N-66-20 issued May 29, 2020, which provides for partial waiver of the California State ESG Regulations.
Coronavirus Allocation (ESG-CV)
ESG-CV funds are 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 is a state and federally recognized non-profit organization and has capacity to administer the funding. If the COC does not meet these requirements, the COC must designate an AE to administer the funding for that COC Service area.
HCD allocates its funding to the State’s CoC service areas using a formula method set forth under Section 8402 of the State ESG Regulations to two allocations.
Continuum of Care (CoC) Allocation
CoCs within this allocation have at least one city or county that receives ESG funds directly from HUD. Within the CoC Allocation, Administrative Entities (AEs) are selected by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to administer an allocation of funds provided through a formula for their service area. These AEs must be local governments of ESG Entitlement Areas and must commit to administering ESG funds in collaboration with their CoC throughout their CoC Service Area, including ensuring access to ESG funds by households living in Nonentitlement Areas. A minimum of 40 percent of each AE Allocation must be used for Rapid Rehousing activities.
CoC Allocation Administrative Entity Contact List (PDF)
Balance of State (BoS) Allocation
CoCs within this allocation have no cities or counties that receive ESG funds directly from HUD.
Within the BoS Allocation, CoCs may select providers to receive a portion of funds available noncompetitively for Rapid Rehousing (RR). HCD will administer these contracts with providers. Remaining funds within the BoS Allocation will be divided into three regional allocations. CoCs will recommend homeless service providers to compete for these funds within their regional allocation under a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) issued by HCD.
Balance of State Allocation CoC Contact List (PDF)
California ESG Program
The 2016-17 budget bill, SB 837 (Section 72), created the California Emergency Solutions Grants (CA ESG) Program for which $35 million has been made available to support rapid rehousing, emergency shelter, and other services to address homelessness throughout the State. The legislation provides that the CA ESG program shall be administered by the Department in a manner generally consistent with the Federal ESG Program, and requires the Department to adopt program guidelines to address changes that may be needed to expand the program to cover all areas of the State, or to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the program. Funds for CA ESG were available in 2017.
Eligible Activities
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.
Eligible Applicants and Eligible Areas to Be Served
The Department 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”). In the CoC Allocation, local governmental entities are eligible subrecipients, who in turn select homeless service providers to receive the funds. In the Balance of State Allocation, private nonprofit organizations or units of general purpose local government are eligible subrecipients that receive ESG funds directly from the Department. (The two allocations are described further below.)
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 State’s ESG program, refer to Appendix A of the current NOFA.
ESG Forms
- ESG Request for Funds (RFF) and Sample Request for Funds (XLS)
- ESG Authorized Signatories Identify Form (RFFs Only) (XLS)
- Use this form for requests for reimbursement
- ESG Budget Revision Workbook (XLS)
- Use this form to request revisions (budget or line item) or Contract Amendments.
- ESG Certificate of Completion (XLS)
- Use this form to close out the contract when funds have been exhausted or contract period ends, whichever comes first.
- ESG Eligible Expense Guide (PDF)
- Government Tin (PDF)
- STD 204 - Payee Data Record (PDF)
- Required when receiving payment from the State of California in lieu of IRS W 9
- Annual Performance Reports
ESG-CV Forms
Federal Statute
Check the HUD Exchange for:
- the text of The Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009 (HEARTH Act), and
- the “homeless” definition contained in the HEARTH Act Final Rule.
Resources
- ESG Client File Checklist – Emergency Shelter (PDF)
- ESG Client File Checklist – Street Outreach (PDF)
- ESG Client File Checklist – Homelessness Prevention (PDF)
- ESG Client File Checklist – Rapid Rehousing (PDF)
- ESG-CV Client File Checklist – Emergency Shelter (PDF)
- ESG-CV Client File Checklist – Street Outreach (PDF)
- ESG-CV Client File Checklist – Homelessness Prevention (PDF)
- ESG-CV Client file Checklist – Rapid Rehousing (PDF)
- ESG Housing Stability Plan – Fillable (PDF)
- ESG-CV Housing Stability Plan - Fillable (PDF)
- ESG Minimum Habitability Standards for Shelter and Housing Policy (PDF)
- ESG California Lead Base Paint Assessment - Worksheet (fillable PDF)
- ESG CoC Collaboration Policy (PDF)
- ESG Housing Problem Solving Policy (PDF)
- ESG Personally Identifying Information (PII) Policy (PDF)
- ESG Personally Identifying Information Checklist (PDF)
- Homelessness Prevention Manual (PDF)
- ESG Homeless Prevention Manual Checklist (PDF)
- ESG Emergency Shelter Policy (PDF)
- ESG Homelessness Eligibility Policy (PDF)
- ESG Rapid Rehousing Manual (PDF)
- ESG Rapid Rehousing Manual Checklist (PDF)
- ESG Fair Market Rent and Rent Reasonableness Policy (PDF)
- Fair Market Rent and Rent Reasonableness Certification (PDF)
- ESG Match Policy (PDF)
- ESG Match – Verification of Match Commitment (PDF)
- ESG Match – Volunteer Hours Tracking Form (PDF)
- ESG Program Income Policy (PDF)
- HMIS Setup Guidance Policy (PDF)
- ESG VAWA Compliance Policy (PDF)
- ESG VAWA Lease Agreement (PDF)
- ESG Equipment Acquisition and Disposition Policy (PDF)
- ESG Street Outreach Policy (PDF)
- Cross Cutting Policies (PDF)
- eCivis External User Manual (PDF)
- Coordinated Entry Self-Assessment
- Section 504 Guidance and Plan (PDF)
- Section 504 Self-Evaluation Form (PDF)
- ESG Limited English Proficiency Guide (PDF)
- State of California 2020-2024 Federal Consolidated Plan (PDF) — Consolidated Plan approved by HUD.
- HUD ESG Resources
- HUD Overview of the Emergency Solutions Grant Program
- Coordinated Entry Policy Brief (February 2015)
- HMIS Data Standards Manual (September 2015)
ESG-CV Documents
- DOB Workbook – ESG-CV (PDF)
- Sample of DOB Policies and Procedures for CoCs (PDF)
- HCD DOB Policy – ESG-CV (updated) (PDF)
- Sample ESG-CV DOB Checklist (PDF)
Trainings
ESG Workshop and Trainings YouTube channel: ESG Workshop and Trainings - YouTube
Office Hours
ESG Office Hours YouTube channel: ESG Office Hours - YouTube
ESG Office Hours Audio Description YouTube channel: ESG Office Hours Audio Descriptions - YouTube
PowerPoint Slides
- Office Hours 1/3/22 (PDF)
- Office Hours 1/12/22 (PDF)
- Office Hours 1/26/22 (PDF)
- Office Hours 2/2/22 (PDF)
- Office Hours 2/9/22 (PDF)
- Office Hours 2/16/22 (PDF)
- Office Hours 2/26/22 (PDF)
- Office Hours 2/23/22 (PDF)
- Office Hours 3/2/22 (PDF)
- Office Hours 3/9/22 (PDF)
- Office Hours 3/16/22 (PDF)
- Office Hours 3/23/22 (PDF)
- Office Hours 3/30/22 (PDF)
- Office Hours 4/6/22 (PDF)
Awards
ESG - CV Award Lists
2021 ESG Award Lists
Archive
2021 ESG NOFA for the Continuum of Care (CoC) Allocation & Application
- 2021 ESG Continuum of Care Resolution Template (PDF)
- 2021 ESG Continuum of Care Amended NOFA (PDF) — 10/18/2021
- 2021 ESG CoC NOFA (PDF) — Application must be accessed through the eCivis Grants Network Portal — Programs Available for Solicitation page . Applications can be submitted on a ‘rolling’ basis. Applications are due by October 19, 2021 at 5:00 pm PDT.
2021 ESG NOFA for the Balance of State (BoS) Allocation & Applications and Recommendation Package
- 2021 ESG Balance of State Resolution Template (PDF)
- 2021 ESG Balance of State Amended NOFA (PDF) 10/18/2021
- 2021 ESG BoS NOFA (PDF) — Applications must be accessed through the eCivis Grants Network Portal — Programs Available for Solicitation page . Applications can be submitted on a ‘rolling’ basis. Applications are due by October 19, 2021 at 5:00 pm PDT.
- 2021 ESG BoS Recommendation Package — Application must be accessed through the eCivis Grants Network Portal — Programs Available for Solicitation page . Recommendation Packages can be submitted on a ‘rolling’ basis. BoS Recommendation Packages and Applications are due by October 19, 2021 at 5:00 pm PDT.
- 2021 ESG FAQs (PDF) — 09/09/2021
2020 ESG Award Lists
- 2020 ESG-CV1 Awards (PDF)
- 2020 ESG-CV (Round 2) Awards (PDF)
- 2020 ESG Balance of State Competitive Awards (PDF)
- 2020 ESG Balance of State Noncompetitive Awards (PDF)
- 2020 Continuum of Care Awards (PDF)
2020 ESG-CV (Round 2) Coronavirus NOFA Allocation & Application
- 2020 ESG-CV (Round 2) Coronavirus NOFA (PDF)
- 2020 ESG-CV Application access via eCivis Grants Network Portal Solicitations Page
- eCivis Grants Network HCD External User Manual (PDF)
- 2020 ESG Federal Procurement Webinar Slides (PDF)
- 2020 ESG Federal Procurement Webinar Recording
- 2020 ESG-CV (Round 2) Frequently Asked Question (PDF)
- ERAP and ESG Workshop Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
- ERAP and ESG Workshop Slides (PDF)
2020 ESG-CV Coronavirus NOFA Allocation & Application
- 2020 ESG-CV Coronavirus NOFA (PDF)
- 2020 ESG-CV Application access via eCivis Grants Network Portal Solicitations Page
- Applicant Name Verification Form (PDF)
- STD 204 — Payee Data Record
- TIN Form (PDF)
- eCivis Grants Network HCD External User Manual (PDF)
- June 4, 2020 ESG-CV Coronavirus NOFA Webinar
- 2020 ESG Federal Procurement Webinar Slides (PDF)
- 2020 ESG Federal Procurement Webinar Recording
ESG NOFA for the Continuum of Care (CoC) Allocation & Application Forms
- 2020 ESG Continuum of Care Amended NOFA (PDF) — 5/12/2020
- 2020 ESG Continuum of Care Resolution (PDF)
- STD 204 — Payee Data Record
- TIN Form (PDF)
- 2020 ESG Applicant Name Verification Form (PDF)
- 2020 ESG Continuum of Care Applications Received (PDF)
ESG NOFA for the Balance of State (BoS) Allocation & Application Forms
- 2020 ESG Balance of State Amended NOFA (PDF) — 5/12/2020
- 2020 ESG Balance of State Resolution (PDF)
- STD 204 — Payee Data Record
- TIN Form (PDF)
- 2020 ESG Applicant Name Verification Form (PDF)
- 2020 ESG Balance of State Applications Received (PDF)
ESG NOFA for the Continuum of Care (CoC) Allocation & Application Forms
- 2019 ESG Continuum of Care NOFA — Amended (PDF)
- 2019 ESG CoC Resolution Amended (PDF)
- 2019 ESG Designation Letter (PDF)
- STD 204 — Payee Data Record (PDF)
- TIN Form (PDF)
- ESG CoC Webinar Recording
- March 3, 2020 ESG NOFA Continuum of Care Webinar
- ESG CoC FAQs (PDF)
- 2019 ESG Continuum of Care Applications Received (PDF)
ESG NOFA for the Balance of State (BoS) Allocation & Application Forms
- 2019 ESG Balance of State NOFA — Amended (PDF)
- 2019 ESG BoS Resolution- Amended (PDF)
- STD 204 — Payee Data Record (PDF)
- TIN Form (PDF)
- ESG BoS Webinar Recording
- March 5 2020 ESG NOFA Balance of State Webinar
- ESG BoS FAQs (PDF)
- ESG Balance of State (Non-Competitive) Applications Received (PDF)
- ESG Balance of State (Competitive) Applications Received (PDF)
2018 NOFA
ESG NOFA for the Continuum of Care (COC) Allocation and Application Forms
- 2018 ESG Continuum of Care NOFA Amended (PDF)
- 2018 ESG CoC Resolution (PDF)
- Payee Data Record
- 2018 ESG CoC FAQ (PDF)
ESG NOFA for the Balance of State (BOS) Allocation and Application Forms
- 2018 ESG Balance of State NOFA (PDF)
- 2018 ESG BoS Resolution (PDF)
- Payee Data Record
- 2018 ESG BoS FAQ (PDF)
2017 NOFA
- 2017 NOFA for the Continuum of Care Allocation Amended (PDF)
- 2017 NOFA for the Balance of State Allocation (PDF)
- 2017 FAQs (PDF)
2016 NOFA
Past Awards
- 2019 ESG Award Lists
- 2018 ESG Award Lists
- 2017 ESG Award Lists (12/21/2017)
- 2016 ESG Award Lists (PDF)
- 2014 ESG Award List (PDF) — (05/2015)
- 2013 ESG Award List (PDF) — (06/2014)
- 2012 ESG Award List (PDF) — (06/2013)