I. Introduction

The Emergency Shelter Grant Program (ESG) is committed to sheltering families and individuals who find themselves chronic victims of homelessness. It continues its primary goal to support the efforts of the Norfolk Homeless Consortium (NHC) to meet the overall needs of the homeless as well as prevent homelessness.

II. Norfolk's ESG Program Parameters

The City of Norfolk’s Department of Human Services (NDHS) focuses on the following strategies to complete the priority objective to eliminate chronic homelessness in the City of Norfolk:

• Continue to support and lead efforts for programs that help to prevent homelessness.

• Support and monitor eligible activities of established Emergency Shelter Programs.

• Encourage transitional housing arrangements and programs.

• Support creative and innovative supportive services provided by ESG and recipients.

Goals include improving the quality of existing emergency shelters for the homeless, creating additional emergency shelters, assisting with the costs of operating emergency shelters,  providing essential social services to homeless individuals, and to working to prevent homelessness.

HUD allocates ESG funds annually based on the formula used for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).

Applicants and recipients must be in compliance with all Federal Regulations including CFR Title 24, PART 576 - EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANTS PROGRAM: Mckinney-VENTO HOMELESS ASSISTANCE ACT.

III. Priority Considerations

1. Projects that directly contribute to reducing and preventing homelessness will receive greater consideration.

2. Projects located in the following neighborhoods will be given greater consideration - Berkley, Lamberts Point, Huntersville, Park Place, and Brambleton.

IV. Eligible Applicants

1. Private nonprofit organizations, in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 11373(c).

2. Applicants must demonstrate the financial management and programmatic expertise to successfully develop, design, implement and monitor the proposed activities. This expertise is demonstrated through previous experience in successfully developing projects similar to the one proposed, either by partners or key staff within the business or organization.

3. Applicants must be able to meet other federal requirements relative to ESG program - specifically those concerning equal opportunity and fair housing, affirmative marketing, environmental review, displacement, relocation and acquisition, labor, lead-based paint, conflict of interest, debarment and suspension, and flood insurance. Compliance with federal requirements includes those found in CFR Title 24, PART 576 - EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANTS PROGRAM: McKinney-VENTO HOMELESS ASSISTANCE ACT. All applicants should be aware that additional federal requirements apply.

4. Primarily Religious Organizations applicants must also comply with Title 24, Part 576, Subpart B, Sec. 576.23 Limitations.

V. Eligible Activities

Emergency shelter grant amounts may be used for one or more of the following activities relating to emergency shelter for the homeless:

• Renovation, major rehabilitation, or conversion of buildings for use as emergency shelters for the homeless.
   

• Provision of essential services to the homeless, subject to the limitations in CFR 24 Sec. 576.21;
   

• Payment for shelter maintenance, operation, rent, repairs, security, fuel, equipment, insurance, utilities, food, and furnishings. Not more than 10 percent of the grant amount may be used for costs of staff;
   

• Developing and implementing homeless prevention activities, subject to the limitations in 42 U.S.C. 11374(a) (4) and CFR 24 Sec. 576.21. Grant funds may be used under this paragraph to assist families that have received eviction notices or notices of termination of utility services only if the conditions stated in 42 U.S.C. 11374(a)(4) are met.

• Administrative costs, in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 11378.

NEW  For a summary of ESG program eligibility requirements visit the following link.

ESG Program Eligible Activities PDF