Georgia Department of Community Affairs

The Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program provides street outreach, emergency shelter, rapid re-housing, homelessness prevention, and related services to persons experiencing homelessness or in danger of becoming homeless throughout the state. 

Sub-awards are provided to local government entities and non-profit organizations utilizing State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless Commission (HTF) and Federal HUD ESG funds.  These agencies then deliver program services at the local level.  This program is principally designed to operate within a continuum of assistance that enables individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to move toward housing sustainability.

ESG Support Services Only

Applicants are limited to one service project request for up to $25,000 per application. A project is defined by DCA to be a distinct initiative undertaken by an Applicant to provide supportive services directly to “homeless” persons (by HUD definition) who are directly connected to a housing project.

Applicants for ESG Supportive Services funds must demonstrate that projects are not available through the mainstream. Services should be collaborative and available to a network of identified homeless service agencies in the service area.

DCA’s expectation is that each project has a distinct operations policy, an identifiable budget, and identifiable personnel. Successful applicants are required to collect HMIS data including universal and project level data elements for each household served.

*Emergency Shelter projects should apply for services funding through the Emergency Shelter application.

*Service projects to support persons residing in permanent supportive housing are ineligible.

Applicants may apply for up to $30,000 in funding.