Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
 
The Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2009 amended to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, revised the Emergency Shelter Grants Program and renamed it to the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program. The ESG Interim Rule took effect on January 4, 2012. The change in the program name reflects the change in focus from addressing the needs of homeless people in emergency or transitional shelters to assisting people to quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis and/or homelessness.
To be eligible for ESG a person or family must be homeless or at risk of homelessness as defined by 576.2 and income must be at 30% AMI.
ESG funds may be used for these five program components: 
 
1. Street Outreach - Engage homeless individuals and families living on the street
Essential Services necessary to reach out to unsheltered homeless individuals and families, connect them with emergency shelter, housing, or critical services, and provide them with urgent, non-facility-based care. Component services generally consist of engagement, case management, emergency health and mental health services, and transportation. For specific requirements and eligible costs, see 24 CFR 576.101.
 
2. Emergency Shelter - Improve the number and quality of emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families. Improve the number and quality of emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families and to help operate these shelters
 
Renovation of a building to serve as an emergency shelter. Site must serve homeless persons for at least 3 or 10 years, depending on the cost and type of renovation (major rehabilitation, conversion, or other renovation). Note: Property acquisition and new construction are ineligible. Essential Services for individuals and families in emergency shelter. Component services generally consist of case management, child care, education services, employment assistance and job training, outpatient health services, legal services, life skills training, mental health services, substance abuse treatment services, and transportation. Shelter Operations, including maintenance, rent, security, fuel, equipment, insurance, utilities, and furnishings. Relocation assistance for persons displaced by a project assisted with ESG funds. For specific requirements and eligible costs, see 24 CFR 576.102.
 
3. Homelessness Prevention Prevent families and individuals from becoming homeless  
Housing relocation and stabilization services and/or short[1]and/or medium-term rental assistance necessary to prevent the individual or family from moving into an emergency shelter or another place described in paragraph (1) of the “homeless” definition in § 576.2. Component services and assistance generally consist of short-term and medium-term rental assistance, rental arrears, rental application fees, security deposits, advance payment of last month's rent, utility deposits and payments, moving costs, housing search and placement, housing stability case management, mediation, legal services, and credit repair. For specific requirements and eligible costs, see 24 CFR 576.103, 576.105, and 576.106.
 
4. Rapid Re-Housing Rapidly re-house homeless individuals and families
Housing relocation and stabilization services and short[1]and/or medium-term rental assistance as necessary to help individuals or families living in an emergency shelter or other place described in paragraph (1) of the “homeless” definition move as quickly as possible into permanent housing and achieve stability in that housing. Component services and assistance generally consist of short-term and medium-term rental assistance, rental arrears, rental application fees, security deposits, advance payment of last month's rent, utility deposits and payments, moving costs, housing search and placement, housing stability case management, mediation, legal services, and credit repair. For specific requirements and eligible costs, see 24 CFR 576.104, 576.105, and 576.106.
 
5. Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
Grant funds may be used for certain Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and comparable database costs, as specified at 24 CFR 576.107.
*Also, up to 7.5% of a recipient’s allocation can be used for administrative activities.
 

Emergency Solutions Grant Covid-19 (ESG-CV)

These special ESG-CV funds are to be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) among individuals and families who are homeless or receiving homeless assistance. The funds will also support additional homeless assistance and homelessness prevention activities to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19.
To be eligible for ESG a person or family must be homeless or at risk of homelessness as defined by 576.2 and income must be at 50% AMI.

Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) for Public Housing Residents

ESG is used to pay up to six months of rental arrearages. To be eligible an individual or family must reside in a Public Housing Authority (PHA) and be at or below 30% AMI. The Housing Authority must refer the tenant(s) to Human Development Services of Westchester (HDSW) and the tenant must meet ESG definition of homeless or at risk of homelessness.
This program is open to residents in a below listed PHA in Westchester Urban County Consortium (WUCC)

Greenburgh Housing Authority
Mount Kisco Housing Authority
North Tarrytown Housing Authority
Peekskill Housing Authority
Port Chester Housing Authority
Tarrytown Municipal Housing Authority
Tuckahoe Housing Authority

Fact Sheet

Additional Municipalities may be added. Please contact HDSW directly for more information 914-939-2005
Funds expire 4/15/2023 with Human Development Services of Westchester (HDSW).

Emergency Solutions Grant Covid-19  (ESG-CV) for Migrant Services
 
ESG-CV is used to prevent, prepare for and/or respond to the coronavirus among individuals and families who are homeless and seeking asylum. ESG-CV funds are to be used for unsheltered individuals and families and promote public health interventions for people who are experiencing homelessness and might otherwise be at risk of exposure to COVID-19; and to reduce the risk of infection, minimize trauma and promote safe, dignified and equitable spaces for homeless individuals or families. This program seeks to include services for those seeking asylum in the United States. To be eligible, families or individuals living in Consortium communities at 50% or below of the County’s Area Median Income (AMI). 
 
Provided Homeless and Eviction Prevention Services
  1. Street Outreach - Connect clients with emergency shelter/housing or critical services including urgent, non-facility based care. Case management; emergency health and mental health services; transportation
  2. Rapid Rehousing - Funds are available to cover short-term housing such as emergency shelter needs such as bedding; security and utility deposits; moving costs; and housing search and placement for long term housing. Short term housing can be for no longer than six (6) months. 
  3. Emergency Shelter - Case Management; child care; education services; employment assistance and job training; outpatient health services; legal services; life skills training; mental health services; substance abuse treatment services; transportation 
Please contact one of the following agencies directly for more information:
 
1. Neighbors Link  914-666-3410 
2. United Community Center of Westchester 914-813-2896
3. Hispanic Resource Center dba Community Resource Center (HRC/CRC) 914-835-1512

Program can provide up to six months of mortgage/cooperative arrears for those who can demonstrate COVID-19 as the reason and that they were up to date on their mortgages as of March 2020. 

Program Fact Sheet (English)

Program Fact Sheet (Spanish)

Assistance to be available through the following nonprofits agencies:

If you are in danger of being evicted from your apartment, be sure to seek help.  You can contact one of several not-for-profit agencies in Westchester. The agencies below assist income-eligible families in the likelihood of an eviction from their apartments or homes. This 

Financial assistance is generally limited to one month’s support in a 12-month period, and the family must demonstrate they have the ability to pay their rent going forward. These organizations can help with:

  • One-time rent payment to your landlord or mortgage company
  • Assistance with broker’s fee or security deposit for a permanent new apartment
  • Legal services and support to resolve disputes with landlords
  • Tenant and landlord meditation
  • Utility shut off prevention

Catholic Charities (Back rent and limited utilities assistance)
Yonkers Office:
204 Hawthorne Avenue
Yonkers, New York 10705
(914) 476-2700

Port Chester Office:
22 Don Bosco Place
Port Chester, New York 10573
(914) 939-0547

Mount Vernon United Tenants (Back rent, utility assistance and legal counseling)
40 South First Avenue
Mt. Vernon, New York 10550
(914) 699-1114
E-mail:

Washingtonville Housing Alliance (Back rent and legal counseling)
136 Library Lane
Mamaroneck, New York 10543
(914) 698-4299

Westchester Mediation Center of CLUSTER  (Back rent assistance)
Main Offices
20 South Broadway
Yonkers, New York 10701
(914) 963-6440

Westchester County Department of Social Services (Back rent assistance)
85 Court Street
White Plains, New York 10601
Tel: (914) 995-5889

Westchester Hispanic Coalition (Back rent)
46 Waller Avenue
White Plains, New York 10605
(914) 948-8466
E-mail:  

Westchester Residential Opportunities (Back rent, utility assistance and legal counseling)
470 Mamaroneck Avenue – Suite 470
White Plains, New York 10605
(914) 428-4507

Human Development Services of Westchester, Inc.
Neighborhood Preservation Company Program
28 Adee Street
Port Chester, New York 10573
(914) 939-2005

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (Legal services for eviction prevention proceedings)
90 Maple Avenue
White Plains, New York 10601
(914) 949-1305

The Bridge Fund of New York
Westchester Office:
171 E Post Road, Suite 200
White Plains, New York 10605
(914) 949-8146

 

With the escalating costs of energy, landlords, tenants and homeowners alike have taken an interest in all things energy efficient. A number of Web sites, such as the U.S. Department of Energy and Home Energy Magazine, provide helpful and relevant information. The U.S. Dept.of Energy provides a Consumer's Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewal Energy. Some of the information you'll find includes:

  • Energy conservation and efficiency programs
  • Information on the ENERGY STAR program which reduces energy use through the use of efficient energy products such as lights and appliances
  • Weatherization assistance and solar energy systems
  • Financial programs to assist with the costs of home energy audits and to help pay for home energy efficiencies
  • New York Energy Smart Loan Fund to help pay for energy improvements.

Additional resources are:

Weatherization Assistance Program for single family and multi-family homes

Con Edison
Theodore Fremd Avenue
Rye, New York 10580
Tel: (800) 75-CONED (1-800-752-6633)

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
17 Columbus Circle
Albany, New York 12203
Tel: (518) 862-1090

“Green Technology” refers to making buildings and properties as energy efficient and environmentally clean as possible. This is a trend that is growing in usage and popularity. Green technology sometimes requires up front investment, but it has long-term benefits both financially and environmentally.

For more information about these technologies see the Global Warming section of our Web site. Other sites to visit are Enterprise Community Partners, Enterprise Green Communities and the Local Initiatives Support Corp. Green Development Center. Enterprise helps build fair and affordable housing for low-income Americans by providing financing and expertise to community and housing developers. Enterprise Community Partners is a national nonprofit that provides loans, grants and information resources. LISC's Green Development Center provides financial resources, technical information,partnership opportunities and education to support the use of green design, construction and management principles in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.

Renters who need financial assistance to meet their monthly rent payments can seek help through one of three housing programs. Income is an important measure of whether you may qualify for this assistance. 

What is Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program?
Section 8 is a federal rental assistance program of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) but administered by local offices. It is not an emergency assistance program and applicants may wait a considerable amount of time for assistance. There are 17 Section 8 program offices in Westchester County. Each office is an independent program with its own waiting list for assistance, program guidelines and areas of assistance. If you live in an area with a local Section 8 program, they may be the program that can assist you the quickest. But all programs may not have open waiting lists.

Please note: As of April 1, 2011, the Westchester Section 8 Program is administered by CVR Associates.

The housing choice voucher program is the federal government’s major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments. The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirement of the program and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects.

The owner or landlord must agree to rent under the program. This unit may be the family’s present residence. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by the Section 8 program administrators.

A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the Section 8 program PHA on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program. Under certain circumstances, if authorized by the Section 8 program, a family may use its voucher to purchase a modest home.

Who can I contact for more information and assistance?
Felicia Ramos, Director
Westchester Section 8 Program
112 East Post Road, 1st Floor
White Plains, NY 10601
(914) 995-2415

What is the Housing Opportunities for Persons With HIV+/AIDS?
HOPWA is a federally funded program which can help to fund rental assistance or rent subsidies and needed services. The HOPWA program is designed to assist eligible individuals and families who are currently living in their apartments and are threatened with the loss of their housing because more than 50% of their income goes to pay rent or have unstable and inappropriate living conditions for their illness.

The Office of New York City Department of Mental Health and Hygiene contracts with Lifting Up Westchester formerly known as Grace Church Community Center in White Plains to administer the HOPWA program which is available to all county residents. This is not an emergency program. Applicants may wait a considerable amount of time for assistance.

Who can I contact for more information and assistance?
Barbara Bento-Fleming, Director of Housing Services
Lifting Up Westchester
85 Orchard Street
White Plains, New York 10603
(914) 949-0925 

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