U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development
Emergency Solutions Grant Program
Key facts
- Open now
- 1 grant
- Closed for this year
- 1 grant, next round estimated
- Type of help
- Formula grant (amounts set by a formula)
- Typical award
- For FY 2023, the range of ESG grants is $81,210 to $14,612,469. The average grant amount is $794,520.
- Deadlines
- The Annual Action Plans associated with the Consolidated Plan must be submitted based on the recipient�s program year, but no earlier than November 15 or no later than August 16 of the federal fiscal year for which...
How this money reaches Tennessee: this is a formula program. The federal government sends it to the state (or to large cities and counties), and a Tennessee agency usually passes it on to local groups as pass-through grants. Ask the state agency that runs it, or your regional development district, when their next local round opens.
The open grant below is for the governments the formula names. Most local groups apply through the state agency instead.
Open now
- Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Programs – 2026 Request for Applications · Due Oct 16, 2026 · 9 days left
Closed for this year
This year's round is over. GrantMe estimated the next round from last year's dates.
- Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) · Next round: about Apr 1 – Jun 30, 2027 Estimate, not confirmed by the funder
What it pays for
The ESG program provides funding to: (1) engage homeless individuals and families living on the street; (2) improve the number and quality of emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families; (3) help operate these shelters; (4) provide essential services to shelter residents, (5) rapidly re-house homeless individuals and families, and (6) prevent families and individuals from becoming homeless.
Who can apply
Eligible recipients generally consist of metropolitan cities, urban counties, territories, and states, as defined in 24 CFR 576.2. Metropolitan cities, urban counties and territories may subgrant ESG funds to private nonprofit organizations. Local governments may also subgrant ESG funds to public housing agencies or local redevelopment authorities. States must subgrant all of their ESG funds (except for funds for administrative costs and, under certain conditions, HMIS costs) to units of general purpose local government and/or private nonprofit organizations. Each recipient must consult with the Continuum(s) of Care operating within the jurisdiction in determining how to allocate ESG funds.
How applications are judged
Proposed ESG projects are part of the prospective grantee's Consolidated Plan, which is reviewed according to criteria set forth in 24 CFR 91.
Match
Match: none required (federal program listing). This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details. System does not allow to select
Who in Tennessee has won this program
24 awards to Tennessee groups since 2011. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Memphis, Tennessee | Memphis, Shelby County | $6.6M | 2021 |
| Kentucky Housing Corporation | Frankfort | $3.9M spent that year | 2024 |
| State of Tennessee | Nashville | $3.5M spent that year | 2025 |
| City of Knoxville | Knoxville, Knox County | $2.7M | 2020 |
| Kingsport Housing and Redevelopment Authority | Kingsport | $908K spent that year | 2025 |
| City of Memphis | Memphis, Shelby County | $615K spent that year | 2025 |
| City of Memphis, Tennessee | Memphis, Shelby County | $584K | 2020 |
| City of Memphis, Tennessee | Memphis, Shelby County | $578K | 2022 |
| City of Memphis, Tennessee | Memphis, Shelby County | $576K | 2021 |
| City of Memphis, Tennessee | Memphis, Shelby County | $566K | 2024 |
| City of Memphis, Tennessee | Memphis, Shelby County | $562K | 2023 |
| City of Memphis, Tennessee | Memphis, Shelby County | $559K | 2019 |
Source: USAspending.gov, Federal Audit Clearinghouse.
Tennessee groups that got this money through a state agency or another organization
This federal money also reaches local groups as pass-through grants. In Tennessee, Tennessee Housing Development Agency and Tennessee Department of Health pass it on: watch those agencies for applications, not the federal agency. 86 pass-through grants on file. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Through | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Development & Housing Agency | Nashville, Davidson County | Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davison County, Tennessee | $1.6M spent that year | 2023 |
| Metropolitan Development & Housing Agency | Nashville, Davidson County | Tennessee Housing & Development Agency | $1M spent that year | 2023 |
| The Salvation Army, Nashville, Tennessee Area Command | Nashville, Davidson County | Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency | $747K spent that year | 2023 |
| The Hospitality Hub of Memphis | Memphis, Shelby County | City of Memphis, TN | $500K spent that year | 2023 |
| Susanville Indian Rancheria Housing Authority | Susanville | State of California Department of Housing and Community Development | $495K spent that year | 2024 |
| Tennessee Homeless Solutions | Jackson, Madison County | Tennessee Housing Development Agency | $333K spent that year | 2023 |
| Community Alliance for the Homeless, Inc | Memphis, Shelby County | City of Memphis, TN | $328K spent that year | 2023 |
| The Salvation Army, Nashville, Tennessee Area Command | Nashville, Davidson County | Tennessee Housing and Development Agency | $288K spent that year | 2023 |
| Volunteer Ministry Center, Inc. | Knoxville | City of Knoxville | $273K spent that year | 2024 |
| Bradley Cleveland Community Services Agency | Cleveland, Bradley County | Tennessee Department of Housing and Development | $185K spent that year | 2023 |
| Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association | Memphis | City of Memphis | $178K spent that year | 2025 |
| Oasis Center, Inc. | Nashville, Davidson County | Metro Development Housing Agency | $166K spent that year | 2023 |
Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).