Cobb County Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)

Cobb County Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Cobb County
Last Updated: April 18, 2025

Summary

The Cobb County Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) aims to swiftly assist individuals and families in overcoming homelessness and achieving stable housing. Funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), this program provides essential services such as emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, street outreach, and homelessness prevention. Local nonprofit organizations and agencies are invited to apply for funding to support these critical initiatives, ensuring comprehensive assistance for those in need within Cobb County.

Overview

Background Annually, the Cobb County CDBG Program Office requests proposals from local non-profit organizations and government entities to carry out eligible activities in the County. Objective The primary objective of the ESG Program is to assist people in quickly regaining stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis and/or homelessness, through the following services: Emergency ShelterDefined as any facility, where the primary purpose is to provide a temporary shelter for those individuals or households experiencing homelessness and which does not require occupants to sign leases or occupancy agreements. Emergency shelters provide a maximum 90-day project model for drop-in shelters or continuous stay shelters. To the extent practicable, participants will be assisted in obtaining housing within 20 days of entry regardless of the type of emergency shelter. However, participants may stay longer in order to prevent them from becoming homeless, on the streets, or other places not meant for human habitation. All ESG funded shelters must strive to reduce the average length of stay. Emergency shelter assistance must be available and accessible to persons County wide.Rapid Re-housing Quickly moves households from homelessness into permanent housing by providing move-in assistance, temporary rent assistance, and housing search/stability services.The services are time-limited and the household does not have to leave when services end. Individuals or households receiving this funding must have an income level at or below 50% AMI. Enrollment in a rapid re-housing project should rely heavily on a guided case management plan to ensure long term stability for project participants.All Rapid Re-Housing Programs must serve clients with incomes below 50% AMI.Street OutreachDefined as providing essential services necessary to reach out to unsheltered homeless people to connect them with emergency shelter, housing, or critical services; and provide urgent, non facility-based care to unsheltered homeless people who are unwilling or unable to access emergency shelter, housing, or an appropriate health facility. Unsheltered homeless people are those individuals and families who qualify as homeless under paragraph (1)(i) of the “homeless” definition in 24 CFR §576.2.Homeless Prevention Services are most efficiently used when targeted to those at greatest risk of losing housing due to an eviction notice. Households receiving this funding must have an income level below 30% AMI, must demonstrate that they do not have sufficient resources or support networks to prevent them from moving to an emergency shelter or other place defined under Category 1 of the homeless definition.All Homelessness Prevention must serve clients with incomes below 30% Area Median Income (AMI).

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Cobb County CDBG Program Office is soliciting grant applications from nonprofit organizations, cities, and county agencies.