The 2027 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), administered locally by the Cobb County CDBG Program Office, is part of a federal initiative under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Established through the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2009, the ESG program provides critical support to address homelessness and housing instability within Cobb County, Georgia. The Cobb County CDBG Program Office issues annual calls for proposals from local nonprofit organizations and governmental entities to implement eligible activities during the one-year performance period spanning January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027.
The ESG program is designed to rapidly stabilize housing for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Eligible services funded through the program include Emergency Shelter, Rapid Re-Housing, Street Outreach, and Homelessness Prevention. Emergency Shelter initiatives offer temporary housing solutions for individuals and families without requiring long-term lease agreements, with an emphasis on minimizing length of stay and promoting transitions to stable housing. Street Outreach services focus on engaging unsheltered individuals and connecting them to shelter and essential services. Rapid Re-Housing provides move-in and rental assistance alongside case management to secure and sustain permanent housing for eligible households, while Homelessness Prevention targets households at imminent risk of eviction and housing displacement.
All funded programs are required to follow HUD eligibility guidelines, including specific income limits based on Area Median Income (AMI). Households participating in Rapid Re-Housing must have incomes at or below 50% AMI, while Homelessness Prevention recipients must fall below 30% AMI. Agencies must also utilize the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) for tracking clients and services provided.
Funding priorities for 2027 have been informed by a comprehensive 2024 Strategic Plan Assessment that identified critical local needs such as housing insecurity, mental health challenges, income inequality, substance abuse, and homelessness. Based on the data collected, ESG funds will be distributed across the following priority areas: Emergency Shelter (48%), Street Outreach (10%), Homelessness Prevention (34.5%), and Planning and Administration (7.5%). Notably, no allocation is designated for Rapid Re-Housing this cycle.
Applications for funding open on February 16, 2026, at 8:00 AM EST and must be submitted by April 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM EDT. A Selection Committee will evaluate applications for compliance and alignment with funding priorities and will present funding recommendations to the Cobb County Board of Commissioners in November. Proposals must be submitted through the SurveyMonkey Apply platform. Applicants are strongly encouraged to align their projects with the identified funding priorities and ensure full participation in data collection and reporting systems.
