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