Emergency Solutions Grants Program

To find Homeless Assistance Hotlines in your area, click on the link below.

Homeless Assistance Hotlines

You can also dial 2-1-1 or visit TN 211 for more services and resources in your area.

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About the Emergency Solutions Grant Program (ESG)

THDA administers the federally funded Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program on behalf of the State of Tennessee to fund the provision of services necessary to help persons who are experiencing homelessness or at-risk of homelessness to quickly regain stability in permanent housing. ESG grants are awarded to eligible non-profits and local governments to fund the following activities:

Street Outreach

Essential Services related to engaging individuals and families who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness, connecting them with emergency shelter, housing, or critical services, and providing them with urgent, non-facility-based care. Eligible costs include engagement, case management, emergency health and mental health services, transportation, and services for special populations. See 24 CFR 576.101.

Emergency Shelter

Essential Services, including case management, childcare, education services, employment assistance and job training, outpatient health services, legal services, life skills training, mental health services, substance abuse treatment services, transportation, and services for special populations.

Shelter Operations, including maintenance, rent, repair, security, fuel, equipment, insurance, utilities, food, furnishings, and supplies necessary for the operation of the emergency shelter. Where no appropriate emergency shelter is available, eligible costs may also include a hotel or motel voucher for that family or individual. See 24 CFR 576.102.

Rapid Re-Housing

Housing relocation and stabilization services and/or short-and/or medium-term rental assistance as necessary to help individuals or families living in shelters or in places not meant for human habitation move as quickly as possible into permanent housing and achieve stability in that housing.

Eligible costs include:

• Rental Assistance: rental assistance and rental arrears
• Financial Assistance: rental application fees, security and utility deposits, utility payments, last month's rent, moving costs
• Services: housing search and placement, housing stability case management, landlord-tenant mediation, tenant legal services, credit repair. See 24 CFR 576.104

Homelessness Prevention

Housing relocation and stabilization services and short-and/or medium-term rental assistance as necessary to prevent the individual or family from moving to an emergency shelter, a place not meant for human habitation, or another place described in paragraph (1) of the homeless definition.

The costs of homelessness prevention are only eligible to the extent that the assistance is necessary to help the program participant regain stability in their current housing or move into other permanent housing and achieve stability in that housing.

Eligible costs include:

• Rental Assistance: rental assistance and rental arrears
• Financial assistance: rental application fees, security and utility deposits, utility payments, last month's rent, moving costs
• Services: housing search and placement, housing stability case management, landlord-tenant mediation, tenant legal services, credit repair. See 24 CFR 576.103.

Data Collection (HMIS):

ESG funds may be used to pay for the costs of participating in and contributing to the HMIS designated by the Continuum of Care for the area. See 24 CFR 576.107.

Program Guide

2025 ESG Program Information

• 2025 ESG Program Description (Updated 6/6/25)

2024 ESG Program Information
 

• 2024 ESG Program Description
• 2024 ESG Funding Matrix
• 2024 ESG Grantee Workshop

2023 ESG Program Information
 

• 2023 ESG Program Description
• 2023 ESG Funding Matrix

ESG Program Self Audit Forms

• ESG Written Standards Checklist
• ESG Client File Checklist- Rapid Rehousing
• ESG Client File Checklist- Homelessness Prevention
• ESG Client File Checklist- Emergency Shelter
• ESG Client File Checklist- Street Outreach

THDA ESG Workshops & Resources

• ESG Draw Documentation Standards
• ESG Program Basics
• RA HRSS Standards Matrix
• ESG Emergency Shelter and Permanent Housing Standards
• ESG Homelessness Prevention Component Workshop
• ESG Rapid Rehousing Component Workshop
• ESG Payment Request Process Workshop YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/bEuS5Jl0Ld8
• Community Services Programs Overview YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/j4J4oC1XXhg
• ESG Street Outreach Component Workshop YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/_ZyRIZreCrI  
• ESG Emergency Shelter Component Workshop YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/wIgqEJoQvcQ

For questions or guidance on the administration of the ESG Program, please email us.

Procurement

• Procurement Manual
• Compliant ESG Procurement
   

Access the Library of Forms needed to administer the ESG Program

Additional Resources
 

	HUD Guidance HUD Participant Eligibility Guide HUD ESG Program HMIS Manual HUD Homelessness Definition Final Rule (12/5/11) ESG Interim Regulations (Oct 2023) HUD Definition of Chronic Homelessness (12/4/15)
	Telling Your Story : A Communications Guide A great little booklet we've written with tips on how you can effectively publicize the work you're doing within your community. As you increase awareness with the public and local officials, the greater support you will have, and the likelihood of gaining additional funding for future projects increases.
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