Emergency Solutions Grant Last updated or reviewed on February 1, 2024 Request for Applications: FY 2022 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) The Asheville-Buncombe NC-501 Continuum of Care (CoC) is charged by the NC Department of Health and Human Services Division of Aging and Adult Service (NC DHHS DAAS) to submit a community-wide application for Emergency Solution Grant (ESG) funds. This year the NC-501 CoC is eligible for $127,628 in ESG funding. The complete FY 2022 ESG application information and application documents are available here. In particular, please carefully review the FY 2022 Application Information Packet included in the documents on the site. Please note: There are two application review phases and deadlines for ESG funding. The initial portion of the process is a local review conducted by the Finance Workgroup of the Homeless Initiative Advisory Committee (HIAC). After completing its review, this group makes recommendations to HIAC, which are then provided to the NC DHHS DAAS office for final review and award determination. The local deadline for applications is 12:00 p.m. Friday, September 10, 2021 via a Smartsheets link to be provided at a later date. Applicants must be also available to provide a 5 minute presentation at a meeting of the Finance Workgroup of the Homeless Initiative Advisory Committee during the week of September 13 at a time/date to be determined. The final deadline to submit applications to the NC DHHS DAAS for projects recommended by the local review committee is 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 1, 2021. EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT OVERVIEW Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds are intended to be used as part of a homelessness crisis response system using a low-barrier, Housing First approach to ensure that homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring. ESG-funded projects are designed to: Engage homeless individuals and families living on the street; Help operate emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families; Improve the number and quality of emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families; Provide essential services to shelter residents; Rapidly re-house homeless individuals and families; and Prevent families and individuals from becoming homeless. Eligible project types serve two primary functions, Emergency Response activities and Housing Stability activities. The NC DHHS DAAS has established specific funding priorities: Emergency Response activities include street outreach and emergency shelter operations and services. Emergency Response applications must use a low-barrier, Housing First model that prioritizes rapid placement and stabilization in permanent housing. Emergency shelter funds should support facilities linked to Rapid Rehousing and other permanent housing programs. Housing Stabilization activities include Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Assistance. Housing Stability applications must also support the Housing First model. Rapid Rehousing Services and Rapid Rehousing Financial Assistance should be linked to an emergency shelter or street outreach program to ensure coordination/prioritization of clients in obtaining and maintaining permanent housing. Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) activities are also eligible, but only in conjunction with another eligible activity. ESG PROJECT APPLICATIONS To be eligible to apply for ESG funding, agencies must: Serve individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Buncombe County; Utilize a Housing First approach and participate in Coordinated Entry; Be prepared to utilize or already utilizing the Homeless Management Information System to record client level data (or comparable database if Domestic Violence Services Provider); Be ready to serve eligible clients beginning January 1, 2022 and use all funds by December 31, 2022. There are two application review phases for ESG funding. The initial process is a local review conducted by the Finance Workgroup of the Homeless Initiative Advisory Committee (HIAC). After completing its review, this group makes recommendations to HIAC, which are then provided to the State ESG office for final review and award determination. Organizations not currently funded in the FY 2021 annual ESG allocation that are interested in being recommended for ESG funding must complete a full New Project Application and apply through the NC-501 Continuum of Care. Organizations currently funded in the FY 2021 annual ESG allocation that are interested in being recommended for ESG funding must submit the Returning Project Application to apply through the NC-501 Continuum of Care. However, agencies that want to apply for funding in an activity for which they are not currently funded must complete a full application for the new activity. The State will not accept applications (new or returning) directly from organizations. DEADLINE: All New Project Applications and Returning Subrecipient Applications, along with all supporting documentation, must be submitted no later than 12:00 p.m. on Friday, September 10, 2021 via the Smartsheets link to be provided at a later date. No matching funds are required but applicants are encouraged to demonstrate how additional non-ESG funds are leveraged. Although the City of Asheville is responsible for conducting local application review and submitting the ESG Regional Application, the City no longer serves as the Fiscal Sponsor for ESG funding. Agencies that are awarded will contract directly with the ESG Office. However, applicant agencies will be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Asheville outlining the CoC’s requirements for community participation, performance, compliance and reporting. City of Asheville staff will submit the final Regional Application on or before October 1, 2021. NEW APPLICANTS / NEW ACTIVITIES – LETTER OF INTENT TO APPLY Both new applicants and currently funded organizations seeking funding for a new activity must also submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) for funding through this ESG process. Submission of a LOI does not constitute an application nor does it constitute approval for funding. In no more than one page, a Letter of Intent should include: Agency Name; Primary contact person; Contact Email and Phone Number; Anticipated ESG Funding Request for FY 2022; A brief description of the proposed project including: the name, project type, location, number of persons to be served; proposed use of funds; staff capacity; how the project utilizes a Housing First Approach; and how the project will participate in Coordinated Entry. All LOIs must be sent to Brian Huskey no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 30, 2021. RFA Instructional Session and Q&A All prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to attend one of the technical assistance sessions below, being offered by the NC ESG Office, to review and discuss the FY 2022 NC ESG RFA: Thursday, August 19, 1pm-3pm: Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8899547585885884944 Wednesday, July 21, from 10am -12pm Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8334484372201922063 Tuesday, August 24, 10am-12pm: Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2149960163294575120 City of Asheville Community Development staff are also available to answer questions and provide limited application technical assistance. In the process of administering this program, NC DHHS_DAAS will make decisions and interpretations regarding regional, fiscal, and project applications. NC DHHS_DAAS is entitled to the full discretion allowed by law in making all such decisions and interpretations. NC DHHS_DAAS reserves the right to request additional information from any applicant. NC DHHS_DAAS reserves the right to reject any and all applications received. NC DHHS_DAAS reserves the right to amend, modify, or withdraw provisions contained in this application that are inconsistent or in conflict with state or federal laws or regulations. All applications for NC ESG funding become the property of NC DHHS_DAAS. As the NC-501 Continuum of Care Lead and ESG Regional Applicant, the City of Asheville and the HIAC Finance Workgroup reserve these same rights as allowed by law and local NC-501 Continuum of Care policies. Contact Information Homeless Strategy Division staff value equity, problem solving, data-driven strategies, collaboration, transparency, and learning from experts, especially people with lived experience of homelessness. Contact us to learn more about how you can be part of the solution to homelessness in our community. Emily Ball Homeless Strategy Division Manager eball@ashevillenc.gov (828) 271-6129
