Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
Division:
West Virginia Department of Economic Development, Community Advancement and Development
Entity Eligible to Apply for Grant:
Non-Profit Organization that provide shelter and/or supportive services or plan to provide shelter and/or supportive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at-risk of homelessness.
Type of Grant:
Competitive
The Emergency Solutions Grant program (ESG) provides any individual experiencing homelessness with emergency shelter and essential supportive services as well as homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing. Additionally, the ESG program supports the activity of street outreach with the goal of connecting those individuals and families living on the streets or in areas not meant for human habitation to emergency shelter or housing options. For those unable or unwilling to access shelter, outreach workers will provide these most vulnerable individuals with portable shelter, food, clothing, and more.
West Virginia Community Advancement and Development’s (WVCAD) goal is to enable those experiencing homelessness, or at-risk of being homeless to get back on their feet by providing stable housing environments throughout the State of West Virginia. The ESG program is by no means a “hand out”, but instead a “hand up” in providing housing and supportive services with hopes that the end result is self-sustainability with no return to homelessness.
The Emergency Solutions Grant is provided by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development in which Community Advancement and Development serves as a pass-through for this annual allocation. To achieve this, WVCAD provides funding, resources, and technical support to multiple agencies throughout the State with dedicated staff that have the local reach and knowledge necessary to serve those experiencing homelessness, or at risk of becoming homeless in their communities. This includes individualized case management, equitable provisions of supportive services, housing and utility assistance, housing information, and any additional referrals as needed. All 55 counties have coverage with ESG.
ESG services are a vital component to the stability and economic development of communities throughout West Virginia by assisting individuals and families who, without this program’s assistance, could become or remain homeless.
Guidelines
Non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for ESG funding and are referred to as “subrecipients” where funding is received directly from WVCAD.
Every entity that receives federal funds has fiduciary and contractual obligations to: use federal funds to provide the allowable services; and track those funds and expenditures in compliance with federal grant requirements; and have in place an adequate grant management and financial system supported by robust internal controls with financial oversight.
Eligible applicants must:Be a non-profit 501(c)(3); and comply with ESG guidelines and applicable state and federal policies and procedures, including compliance with federal and state non-discrimination laws; and have established accounting practices including internal controls, fiscal accounting procedures and cost allocation plans, and can track agency and program expense by revenue source; and demonstrate prior experience serving individuals and families at-risk of, or currently experiencing homelessness; and certify that they will fully utilize the Homelessness Management Information System (HMIS), or a comparable database system when serving domestic violence and sexual assault victims/survivors; and participate in the Continuum of Care within the applicant’s coverage area.
How to Apply
The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will be made available on our website at www.wvcad.org/ESG on June 21.
Linked to the NOFO will be the WVESG PY22 Project Proposal and Submission Process Overview. This document includes all information regarding the proposal process and a full schedule of form and proposal due dates, informational webinars, and virtual technical support opportunities to have all questions answered. The proposal process begins June 28, 2022 following the release of the NOFO.
On July 8, 2022, FORM A: Intent to Apply and FORM B: Organizational Risk Analysis are due by 4pm. (Organizations that do not submit these two forms by the deadline will not be considered for PY22 funding.)
There will be serval various opportunities for technical support and informational working sessions to familiarize applicants with the process and provide clarification, while also discussing programmatic and fiscal expectations, non-discrimination, equity in service provisions, etc.
All other forms, the project proposal, and an optional video presentation that is 15 minutes or less from the agency pitching the project are due on August 5, 2022 by 4pm. (If the deadline is not met, the proposal will not be considered for funding.)
Projects will be reviewed, activities ranked, and organizations selected to be subrecipients and receive an appropriate award amount for the proposed catchment area and offering of services.
Selections for FY22 awards will be late August 2022. Award Agreements will be available October 1st at the start of the program year for review and execution by the subrecipients. These funds will have a 12-month performance period beginning October 1, 2022 and ending September 30, 2023 or until funding is exhausted by the subrecipient.
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