Emergency Solutions Grant

The Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), administered by the City of Norfolk's Department of Housing and Community Development through the Bureau of Community Development’s Federal Programs Management Division, is designed to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness or housing crises. Originating from the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2009, which revised the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, the ESG program underwent significant restructuring and was formally reissued under the Interim Rule effective January 4, 2012. It aims to provide services that facilitate the rapid stabilization and permanent housing of individuals and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness. The program funds activities under five core components: Street Outreach, Emergency Shelter, Homelessness Prevention, Rapid Re-Housing, and participation in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). These services include essential supports such as case management, emergency health and mental health services, legal aid, housing search and placement, rental and utility assistance, and other housing stabilization services. Administrative costs are allowable but considered a separate activity, not a program component. ESG recipients may also invest in shelter renovations and conversions and assist displaced persons under the Uniform Relocation and Real Property Acquisition Act of 1970. To qualify, clients must meet eligibility criteria defined by federal regulations in 24 CFR 576, with categories depending on the service component. For instance, those receiving street outreach services must meet the definition of "homeless" as outlined in §576.2, while those seeking rapid re-housing must meet eligibility under §576.104. Local jurisdictions may impose additional criteria in accordance with §576.400(e). ESG subrecipients are required to provide a 100% match for the funds received, which must be reported quarterly alongside reimbursement requests. All ESG recipients are expected to coordinate with their local Continuum of Care (CoC) to determine the allocation of funds. For Norfolk, this is the Southeastern Virginia Homeless Coalition (SVHC), led by The Planning Council. This coordination ensures that ESG activities are aligned with regional homelessness strategies and priorities. Interested applicants should refer to the HUD Exchange website for comprehensive federal guidelines and consult the City of Norfolk’s Subrecipient Resources page for local policies and procedures. Specific questions can be directed to the city’s entitlement grant email address. While the specific application timeline is not listed, the presence of a match requirement and consultation with SVHC indicate a structured, collaborative funding process. Additional information about previous application windows or future cycles may be available through the city or HUD.