Emergency Solutions Grant Program Update:

Summary of the Emergency Solutions Grant Program Description Changes
Substantial Amendment to the State of Tennessee Consolidated Plan

Resumen del Subsidio Para Soluciones De Emergencia (ESG)
Enmienda importante al Plan consolidado del estado de Tennessee

The Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) administers the federally-funded Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program to increase the number and quality of emergency shelters and transitional housing facilities for homeless individuals and families; to operate these facilities; to provide essential social services; to provide street outreach services; to provide rapid rehousing assistance; and to provide Homeless Management Information Systems.

THDA is pleased to announce that it will host application workshops for the 2012 ESG program in each of the Grand Divisions.  Program descriptions and applications for the Competitive Allocation will be available at the workshops.  The workshops will begin at 1:00 PM local time at the following locations:

October 23, 2012         Maryville      Blount Co. Public Library                    508 North Cusick Street

October 25, 2012         Nashville      THDA Lower Level Traning Room         404 James Robertson Parkway   

Novemeber 2, 2012       Jackson       Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce    197 Auditorium Street

Program Descriptions and applications will be available at the workshops.  Applications for the ESG program must be received by the Agency on or before 4:30 p.m. (CST), Friday, December 14, 2012.  THDA anticipates notifying successful applicants in late January 2013 with contracts effective March 1, 2013.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2012

• ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.  The competitive applications will accounty for 48% of the State's ESG allocation.  THDA will continue to allocate the $100,000 of ESG funds that do not require a match to the seven agencies working with the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and 52% of the ESG funds will continue to be allocated to the CDBG Small City Entitlement Communities.  The City of Chattanooga will receive an allocation of $84,000 seperate from the Small City Entitlement allocation since it will not be receiving a direct allocation from HUD.
• ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES.  There are five (5) eligible activities in the 2012 ESG program: street outreach; emergency shelter; homelessness prevention; rapid re-housing; and Homeless Management Information Systems, (HMIS).  The CDBG Small City Entitlement Communities may request up to 4.5% of their allocation for administration.
• HMIS.  Successful applicants will be required to participate in the local Continuum of Care's Homeless Management Information System as required by ESG regulations.
• SCORING CRITERIA.  The scoring matrix includes up to 60 points each for County Need, Agency Data and Agency Fiscal Information.  Points will also be awarded for Disaster Areas, Lack of Resources and Reported Incidents of Domestic Violence.

The Program Description and application will be available on the THDA website after October 23, 2012. The Program Description explains the requirements and the application process for the ESG Program.  The Tennessee entitlement communities that receive their own allocation of ESG funds are Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville-Davidson County.

An applicant must apply for at least $35,000 and may apply for a maximum of $75,000 in ESG funding.

For more information, you may contact Sherry Smith, Housing Program Coordinator, at 615-815-2030.