Emergency Solutions Grants: How This Homelessness Program Typically Works

Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) are federal funds that local agencies use to help people who are homeless or at immediate risk of homelessness with short‑term housing and related services.

HowToGetAssistance.org is an informational site only; you must use official government or nonprofit channels to apply or get case-specific help.

ESG money usually does not go directly to individuals as a check. Instead, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds states, cities, and nonprofits, which then provide services like emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, rental help, and homelessness prevention. Your local provider decides how ESG funds are used in your community.

What Emergency Solutions Grants Can (and Can’t) Help With

ESG is designed to address housing emergencies, not general financial hardship. Funds are typically used for:

  • Emergency shelters (operations and services, not usually hotel vouchers unless the local program allows it).
  • Street outreach to connect unsheltered people to shelters or housing.
  • Rapid rehousing, which may include short-term or medium-term rental assistance, help with security deposits, and housing search.
  • Homelessness prevention, usually for people who are about to lose their housing and meet income and risk criteria.
  • Supportive services like case management, housing search, landlord mediation, and help connecting to other benefits.

ESG cannot usually cover ongoing long-term rent, general debt payoff, or non-housing bills like car loans or credit cards. Even for rent help, local rules often limit how many months can be covered and under what conditions.

Terms to know (plain language):

  • Homeless: Literally without a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence (for example, in a shelter, on the street, or in a place not meant for sleeping).
  • At risk of homelessness: Housed now but likely to lose housing soon, with specific risk factors and income limits.
  • Rapid rehousing: Short-term help to move from homelessness into a rental unit quickly.

Does ESG Help in My Situation? (Typical Eligibility Clues)

Because ESG is a federal program run locally, the exact criteria vary by state and community, but you can look for these common patterns when you talk to local providers.

You are more likely to be helped with ESG-funded services if:

  • You are staying in an emergency shelter, on the street, in a vehicle, or in a place not meant for sleeping.
  • You are fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, and a local provider uses ESG funds for that population.
  • You recently lost housing, are staying in a hotel/motel paid for by a charity or government program, or are about to be discharged from an institution and have nowhere to go.
  • For prevention help: you have a written notice (such as an eviction notice) and low household income, and a case manager determines that ESG prevention is likely to keep you housed.

You are less likely to qualify if:

  • You simply have high rent or bills but no immediate loss-of-housing risk.
  • Your income is above local limits.
  • Another program (like Housing Choice Vouchers or a state rental program) is a better fit and ESG funds are reserved for more urgent situations.

A common requirement is that you work with a case manager who verifies your situation with documentation before any ESG-funded help is approved. There is no national “ESG application” portal for individuals; access is always through local providers.

What You’ll Need Ready (Typical Documentation)

Local ESG-funded agencies often use a standard intake process to verify both housing status and income. Having documents ready can speed this up.

You may be asked for:

  • Proof of identity: driver’s license, state ID, or other photo ID.
  • Proof of where you are staying now: shelter letter, a third-party verification form from outreach staff, or if housed, your current lease.
  • Proof of income: recent pay stubs, benefits award letters (SSI, SSDI, TANF, unemployment), or a statement that you have no income.
  • Proof of housing crisis:
    • Eviction notice, notice to quit, or court summons.
    • Late rent notice and landlord contact information.
    • Documentation of domestic violence if applicable (this can vary and may include self-certification for safety reasons).

If you do not have some of these, tell the intake worker immediately; they often have alternate verification methods or forms for third-party statements.

Real-world friction to watch for: A common reason applications get delayed is incomplete paperwork—especially missing income verification, unclear housing status, or unsigned landlord forms—so double-check every form for signatures and return any landlord or third-party documents quickly.

Your Next Steps: How to Find and Contact an ESG-Funded Program

There is no single national public-facing ESG website for individuals, so the main task is finding the right local agency that uses ESG funds for homelessness services.

Step 1: Find your local homelessness or housing crisis entry point

  1. Start with 211 or your local Continuum of Care (CoC).

    • Dial 211 or visit the official 211 site to search by ZIP code for homeless services, emergency shelter, or rental assistance.
    • You can also search online for your city or county plus “Continuum of Care homeless services” to reach the HUD-funded regional coordinating body. HUD lists CoCs on its site under “HUD Exchange – Continuum of Care Contacts”.

  2. Ask specifically about ESG-funded services.
    A simple script: “I’m homeless/at risk of homelessness and I’m trying to connect with any Emergency Solutions Grant or HUD-funded program in this area. What is the first place I should contact?”

  3. Write down the following:

    • Agency name.
    • Direct phone number.
    • Address (if in-person intake is required).
    • Any stated walk-in or call-in hours.

Step 2: Complete intake with the assigned agency

  1. Contact the agency during intake hours by phone or in person.
  2. Explain your situation clearly, using housing terms they understand, for example: “I am sleeping in my car and need help getting into housing” or “I received an eviction notice and will have nowhere to go.”
  3. Provide documents the worker requests (ID, eviction notice, income) and answer eligibility questions honestly.

What to expect next:

  • You may be placed on a prioritization list based on vulnerability, length of homelessness, or risk level.
  • You may be connected to shelter first, then considered for rapid rehousing.
  • For prevention help, staff typically review whether ESG funds are allowed for your case and whether they are available at that time; decisions are not guaranteed and may take days or longer depending on demand and staffing.

Step 3: Follow up and stay reachable

  1. Ask the worker, “What should I expect next, and when should I check back?”
  2. Keep your phone charged and voicemail cleared, or provide a reliable contact method.
  3. If you change where you are staying, update the agency so they can keep you on any active list and contact you if a unit or funding opens.

Common Snags (and Quick Fixes)

  • Snag: Can’t find which agency uses ESG funds.
    Quick fix: Contact 211 and your regional Continuum of Care and ask directly who handles HUD or ESG-funded homeless services; keep calling until you get a clear referral.

  • Snag: No ID or lost documents.
    Quick fix: Explain this immediately at intake; agencies often have alternative verification methods or can refer you to ID restoration help, but you must still complete all other parts of intake.

  • Snag: Phones always busy or no call back.
    Quick fix: Ask 211 or another referral line if there are walk-in hours or different contact numbers; show up in person during posted intake times if it’s safe and feasible.

  • Snag: Landlord will not fill out forms or answer.
    Quick fix: Give the agency accurate landlord contact details and ask if they can reach out; sometimes a landlord statement, lease, and eviction notice are enough if calls go unanswered.

Quick Summary: How ESG Typically Works for Individuals

  • ESG is federal HUD funding that local governments and nonprofits use for homelessness response, not general cash aid.
  • Help usually comes as shelter, rapid rehousing, or prevention services, not payments made directly to you.
  • Eligibility focuses on homelessness or imminent loss of housing, with income and documentation checks.
  • To access ESG-funded services, contact your local homelessness system (211 or Continuum of Care) and complete an intake with the referred agency.
  • Outcomes, amounts, and timelines vary; no one can promise approval, and funds are limited.

Avoid Mistakes and Scam Warnings

Because ESG deals with housing and money, scam attempts do occur around “rental assistance” and “government housing programs.” Legitimate ESG-funded programs typically:

  • Do not charge application fees to enroll or be assessed.
  • Use official government or nonprofit email addresses and phone numbers (often .gov or .org).
  • Pay landlords or service providers directly rather than handing you large amounts of cash.

Be cautious if:

  • Someone guarantees approval or fast payment for a fee.
  • You are asked to send money, gift cards, or your full Social Security number through text or social media messages from unknown people.
  • A person claims they can “get you ESG funds” without any formal intake or documentation.

If in doubt, verify the agency through 211, your city or county’s official website, or HUD’s resources on homeless assistance at HUD.gov before sharing personal information.

If ESG-funded help is not available or you are found ineligible, ask the intake worker: “What other housing or rental programs should I contact, and can you give me their names and numbers?” This often uncovers state emergency rental programs, local relief funds, or other shelter options that are separate from ESG but may still help with a housing crisis.