The emergency solutions grant (ESG) authorizes the department of housing and urban development (HUD) to make grants to states, units of general-purpose local government, and territories for the…

The Department of Housing and Urban Development's Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development awarded South Carolina's Office of State Treasurer (operating as the Department of Administration) $2.5M through the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program (CFDA 14.231) on September 12, 2025, with a completion date of September 11, 2027. This formula grant funds five core program components designed to address homelessness and housing instability: street outreach services to engage unsheltered individuals and families; emergency shelter rehabilitation, conversion, and operations; homelessness prevention assistance; rapid re-housing services with rental assistance and housing stabilization support; and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) activities. Administrative activities supporting program implementation are also eligible uses of funds.

As the state-level pass-through entity, South Carolina will distribute ESG funding to local service providers, nonprofit organizations, and local governments to deliver these services across the state. The program emphasizes rapidly transitioning individuals and families experiencing homelessness or housing crises into permanent housing while simultaneously preventing at-risk populations from becoming homeless. Recipients must maintain detailed records for five years and comply with federal regulations under 24 Code of Federal Regulations Part 576, with submission of Annual Action Plans to the HUD field office for approval.

Activities

ESG funds may be used for five program components: street outreach, emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, rapid RE-housing assistance, and homeless management information system (HMIS). Funds can also be used for administrative activities. The five program components and the eligible activities that may be funded under each are set forth in 24 code of federal regulations (CFR) 576.101 through 576.107.

Expected outcomes

With ESG program funding, communities can engage homeless individuals and families living on the street, improve the number and quality of emergency shelters for homeless individuals/families, support the operation of emergency shelters, provide essential services to shelter residents, rapidly work to rehouse homeless individuals and families and prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless.

Intended beneficiaries

Eligible recipients of the ESG funds generally consist of metropolitan cities, urban counties, territories, and states, as defined in 24 CFR 576.2. The minimum eligibility criteria for ESG beneficiaries are as follows: for essential services related to street outreach, beneficiaries must meet the criteria under paragraph (1) (I) of the "homeless" definition under 576.2. For emergency shelter, beneficiaries must meet the "homeless" definition in 24 CFR 576.2. For essential services related to emergency shelter, beneficiaries must be "homeless" and staying in an emergency shelter (which could include a day shelter). For homelessness prevention assistance, beneficiaries must meet the requirements described in 24 CFR 576.103PAR. For rapid RE-housing assistance, beneficiaries must meet requirements described in 24 CFR 576.104. Further eligibility criteria may be established at the local level in accordance with 24 CFR 576.400(E).

Subrecipient activities

The subrecipient activities are unknown at the time of award.