Emergency Solution Grant

The Harris County Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Request for Proposals (RFP) is administered by the Harris County Housing and Community Development Department (HCHCD). This program is made possible through federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The ESG program is designed to support efforts that address homelessness by providing funding for projects that assist individuals and families in regaining stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness. For the program year 2024, approximately $700,000 in ESG funds is anticipated to be available. These funds must be utilized for eligible activities falling within one of the following five ESG components: Homeless Prevention, Emergency Shelter, Rapid Re-housing, and Street Outreach. These categories are designed to support both proactive and reactive homelessness interventions. Funded projects must directly benefit homeless individuals or those at risk of homelessness. Applications were made available on October 11, 2024, and the submission deadline was November 1, 2024, at 2:00 PM CST. Interested and eligible applicants could access the required RFP documents via a dedicated BOX platform. Submission of proposals also occurred through this platform. The application process included several supports for applicants, including a Technical Assistance window from October 14 to October 25, 2024, which was limited to applicants whose applications were at least 70% complete. An applicant conference was held on October 16, 2024, and a recording of this session was made available online. Eligible applicants include organizations as outlined in the RFP, though the notice does not specify exact categories. Interested organizations were encouraged to review the complete application guidance to confirm eligibility. Harris County emphasizes strict adherence to deadlines, stating that late proposals would not be accepted under any circumstance. The timeline for the grant program includes evaluation and selection of proposals from November to December 2024, with approval by the Commissioner’s Court expected in April or May. Conditional award notifications are anticipated in June or July 2025. For questions or requests for accommodation, applicants were instructed to contact the HCHCD via the dedicated email address [email protected]. Additional information, updates, and public notices were made available through the county’s housing and development website. The ESG RFP is an annual funding opportunity. Based on the established timeline and reference to Program Year 2024, the next anticipated cycle is expected to open in October 2025, with internal planning activities advised to begin by September 1, 2025, to align with the recurring release schedule.

Technical assistance is limited and appointment-based, so applicants should start early to ensure 70% completion before scheduling support. Late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstance.