Urban Entitlement Grants Program

Charleston County’s Urban Entitlement Program is an annual funding opportunity administered by the Community Development and Revitalization (CDR) Department to support housing, infrastructure, and community development initiatives that benefit low- and moderate-income residents throughout Charleston County, South Carolina. Backed by federal allocations from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), this program channels funding from several entitlement streams including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant (HESG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), and the Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) set-aside. These funds are managed locally by Charleston County, in collaboration with its participating jurisdictions, to implement the County’s Consolidated Plan for the program years 2026 through 2030. The funding opportunity is designed to provide financial support to organizations implementing eligible projects aligned with HUD goals and County priorities. CDBG funds may be used for emergency housing repairs, infrastructure improvements, and public services; HESG supports services addressing homelessness, including rapid re-housing and shelter operations; HOME and CHDO funds focus on the acquisition, rehabilitation, or new construction of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households. While the funding amounts for PY 2026–2027 have not yet been finalized, prior year allocations serve as an indicator: approximately $1.8 million in CDBG, $728,751 in HOME/CHDO, and $155,899 in HESG funding were awarded in the previous cycle. Eligible applicants include governmental, nonprofit, neighborhood-based, community, and faith-based organizations. Private for-profit entities may also apply for HOME funds. CHDO applicants must hold a current certification and demonstrate capacity to develop affordable housing in the Urban Entitlement area. Applications are submitted electronically via the Neighborly Software Portal, and separate applications are required for each project and each funding stream. Pre-application workshops are offered and strongly encouraged but not mandatory. The 2026 application cycle opens March 24, 2026, and closes April 22, 2026. A pre-application workshop is scheduled for March 31, 2026. The deadline for ESG Continuum of Care (CoC) endorsement is April 3, and the final date for written questions is April 8. An addendum will be posted April 10. All application materials, including required attachments such as project budgets, audit documents, certification forms, and community support letters, must be submitted by the final deadline. Incomplete or late submissions will be deemed non-responsive. Evaluation is based on alignment with County Consolidated Plan goals, project feasibility, organizational capacity or past performance, demonstrated community support, and overall application completeness. Certain programs (e.g., HESG) require additional documentation such as an endorsement letter from the Lowcountry Continuum of Care. Projects requiring environmental review must receive clearance before work can begin. Match requirements vary by funding stream: HOME and CHDO programs require a 25% non-federal match, while HESG requires a 100% non-federal match. CDBG does not require a match, but projects with additional leveraged funds receive scoring advantages. All funded projects must begin within 90 days of contract execution and comply with federal procurement and performance requirements. Selected subrecipients will be required to undergo a contract process, submit detailed documentation, and participate in periodic performance and financial reporting. Funding for Program Year 2026–2027 is expected to commence on September 1, 2026, and conclude on August 31, 2027.

Submit early via Neighborly portal; ensure match documentation for HOME/HESG; clarify geographic service area; projects must be ready to begin within 90 days.