Westchester County Housing Programs

 

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.