Emergency Solutions Grants – CARES Act (ESG-CV)

The CARES Act appropriated $4 billion through the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program “to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, among individuals and families who are homeless or receiving homeless assistance and to support additional homeless assistance and homelessness prevention activities to mitigate the impacts created by coronavirus under the Emergency Solutions Grants program (42 U.S.C. 11371).”

This page provides ESG-CV resources released by HUD and its TA Providers to assist communities implement their supplemental allocation of ESG-CV program funding to respond to COVID-19 and mitigate its impacts.

Program Requirements

ESG-CV Notices CPD-22-06 and CPD-21-08 Summary

This summary requirements document reviews the following items within the ESG-CV Notices CPD-22-06 and CPD-21-08:

  • Notice Applicability
  • Eligible Activities
  • Means of Carrying Out Grant Activities
  • Recapture Provisions
  • Reallocation Formula
  • Important Dates and Deadlines
  • Waivers and Alternative Requirements

Date Published: August 1, 2022

ESG-CV Notice CPD-22-06 Quick Reference Guide

This quick reference document reviews the following items within the ESG-CV Notice CPD-22-06:

  • Spending Deadlines
  • Waiver of Limits on Housing Stability Case Management
  • Waiver of Obligation Deadline Requirement for State ESG Recipients
  • Waiver of ESG Program Requirement for Reallocation Funds
  • Expiration of ESG-CV Flexibilities for Annual Grants
  • Reallocation Formula Description

Date Published: June 21, 2022

Summary of ESG Program Waivers and Alternative Requirements

This document itemizes all waivers and alternative requirements currently in effect as of April 19, 2022 for the ESG Program under ESG-CV and summarizes their applicability to the following categories of ESG Program funds:

  • ESG-CV
  • Annual ESG: COVID Response
  • Annual ESG: Non-COVID Response

Date Published: May 18, 2022

ESG-CV Notice CPD-22-06 Webinar

HUD’s Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAPS) sponsored a webinar for Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program recipients and subrecipients to provide an overview of important updates applicable to ESG CARES Act (ESG-CV) grants and answer questions about Notice CPD-22-06.

Date Published: April 19, 2022

Notice CPD-22-06: Waivers and Alternative Requirements for the ESG Program Under the CARES Act (ESG-CV); Amendments and Clarifications

This Notice makes changes to the waivers and alternative requirements that set March 31, 2022 as the deadline for expending 80 percent of each Emergency Solutions Grants – CARES Act (ESG-CV) grant and September 30, 2022 as the deadline for expending 100 percent of each ESG-CV grant. This Notice also includes a new waiver of housing stability case management limits as well as new waivers and alternative requirements specifying how recaptured ESG-CV funds will be reallocated and made available for immediate use in preventing, preparing for, and responding to individuals and families who are homeless or receiving homeless assistance and supporting additional homeless assistance and homelessness prevention activities to mitigate the impacts created by coronavirus.

Date Published: April 2022

ESG-CV Notice CPD-21-08 Webinar

HUD’s Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAPS) invited homeless assistance providers and their partners to participate in a webinar to hear HUD experts discuss the updated ESG-CV Notice CPD-21-08.

Date Published: July 2021

ESG-CV Notice CPD-21-08 Summary

This resource provides a summary of ESG-CV Notice CPD-21-08, including:

  • Notice Applicability
  • Newly-added eligible activities
  • Existing eligible activities
  • Means of carrying out grant activities
  • Important dates and deadlines
  • Waivers and alternative requirements

Date Published: July 2021

Notice CPD-21-08: Waivers and Alternative Requirements for the ESG Program Under the CARES Act

This Notice supersedes Notice CPD-20-08, published on September 1, 2020, and reestablishes the allocation formula and amounts and reestablishes and announces new requirements for the $3.96 billion in funding provided for the ESG Program under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). These ESG-CV funds must be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus among individuals and families who are homeless or receiving homeless assistance and to support additional homeless assistance and homelessness prevention activities to mitigate the impacts created by coronavirus. Requirements at 24 CFR Part 576 will apply to the use of these funds, unless otherwise provided by the alternative requirements and flexibilities established under the CARES Act, this Notice, or subsequent waivers, amendments, or replacements to this Notice. HUD may reassess any waivers established under this Notice prior to September 30, 2022.

Date Published: July 2021

Notice CPD-21-05: Waiver and Alternative Requirements for the ESG Program Under the CARES Act

This Notice announces additional flexibility for recipients and subrecipients administering rapid re-housing (RRH) assistance with Emergency Solutions Grants Program funds provided under the CARES Act (ESG-CV funds). Specifically, this notice establishes new waiver and alternative requirements to allow ESG-CV funds to be used for short- and medium-term rental assistance and housing relocation and stabilization services for individuals and families who are residing in housing and receiving time limited subsidies funded by another source and who met the definition of “homeless” prior to entering that housing and whose subsidy is within 30 days of expiring. Additionally, it allows recipients and subrecipients to accept inspections conducted by other providers indicating that the housing is safe and sanitary instead of having to conduct their own habitability inspections prior to providing RRH assistance funded by ESG-CV, as set forth below. This Notice does not add, remove, or change any existing flexibility or requirements other than as specifically stated in this Notice.

Date Published: April 2021

Eligible ESG Program Costs for Infectious Disease Preparedness

This document provides information about how ESG Program recipients may use ESG Street Outreach and Emergency Shelter funds for essential supplies and services to reduce the spread of infectious disease in their programs.

Date Published: February 2021

Adjusting ESG Written Standards for ESG-CV

This document outlines the most common areas that may need to be updated in regular ESG written standards due to preparing for, preventing, and responding to COVID-19. This document also provides sample framing language that may be used or adapted for local context.

Date Published: January 2021

Eligibility During Eviction Moratoria

This document details eligibility criteria for individuals or families to receive Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Homelessness Prevention resources for COVID-19 response during an eviction moratorium.

Date Published: January 2021

ESG-CV Notice CPD-20-08 Summary

This document discusses the following topics regarding ESG-CV funds:

  • Applicability
  • Additional Eligible Activities
  • Important Dates
  • Means of Carrying Out Grant Activities
  • Waivers & Alternative Requirements (Flexibilities)

Date Published: October 2020

HMIS Budget and Staffing

This document provides several key budgeting and staffing considerations to guide HMIS Leads, CoC leadership, and ESG recipients when prioritizing HMIS funding using ESG-CV.

Date Published: August 2020

Strategies to Design and Implement a Successful ESG-CV Program

This document discusses important considerations for selecting subrecipients and strategies to prioritize high-impact ESG activities in an effort to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Date Published: August 2020

Homelessness Prevention Eligibility During Eviction Moratoria

This document reviews the eligibility criteria for ESG-CV Homelessness Prevention (HP) assistance provided to households facing an eviction action.

Date Published: July 2020

Federal Funding Priority Order for Noncongregate Shelter During COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) agree that in certain cases noncongregate sheltering (NCS) may be necessary in this Public Health Emergency to save lives, to protect property and public health, and ensure public safety.

Date Published: June 2020

Grants Management

ESG-CV Duplication of Benefits

These documents assist ESG Program recipients in avoiding duplication of benefits (DOB) of their ESG-CV funds.

Date Published: May 2022

Program Transfer Considerations for Households in ESG-CV Rapid Re-Housing Programs

This document explores how to plan for program transfers in situations where households will need rental assistance and/or supportive services at the end of the ESG-CV expenditure period.

Date Published: April 2022

IDIS Fact Sheet for ESG-CV Grant Reductions and Grant Reallocation of Funds

This fact sheet guides ESG program recipients through the necessary steps in the Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS) to account for a grant reduction due to recapture or a grant increase when awarded reallocated funds.

Date Published: April 2022

Leveraging ESG-CV Landlord Financial Incentives to Expedite Engagement

This document provides an overview of how to operationalize landlord incentives permitted under the ESG-CV notice.

Date Published: February 2022

Shelter Renovation to Address Infection Control and Improve Shelter Quality

This document explains how communities may utilize ESG-CV funding to renovate shelters to prevent, prepare, and respond to COVID-19. These improvements can ensure shelters function sustainably and provide long-term infection control capacity.

Date Published: February 2022

ESG-CV Expenditure Deadline Updates

This message from Jemine A. Bryon, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAPS) provides ESG recipients with updates regarding the expenditure deadlines HUD set forth in Notice CPD-21-08.

Date Published: February 2022

Disposition and Recordkeeping Requirements When Using ESG-CV or ESG Funds to Purchase Furniture or Household Furnishings

This document reviews equipment disposition and recordkeeping requirements that recipients and subrecipients must adhere to when using ESG or ESG-CV funds to buy furniture and household furnishings.

Date Published: February 2022

Carrying Out Coordinated Entry Activities Under the ESG Program

This document outlines how ESG funds may be used for Coordinated Entry (CE) costs. As Continuums of Care (CoCs) and ESG recipients implement CE changes to further protect households experiencing homelessness, it is critical that communities understand what CE activities can be funded through each program.

Date Published: January 2022

Coordinating ESG-CV and EHV to Create Surge Capacity in Coordinated Entry Systems

This document focuses on coordinating ESG-CV funding and the Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) program to create surge capacity in Coordinated Entry Systems (CES).

Date Published: January 2022

Allocating ESG-CV to Support Strategies to Prevent and Respond to COVID-19 Outbreaks

This document outlines strategies for how ESG-CV recipients can reallocate funds to respond to COVID-19 outbreaks.

Date Published: November 2021

ESG-CV Expense Tools

The ESG-CV Expense Tools are intended to help communities monitor and track their supplemental allocation of ESG-CV program funding to respond to COVID-19 and mitigate its impacts.

Date Published: October 2021

Re-Evaluating Your ESG-CV Approach

This document explains how recipients can make changes to their annual Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) and ESG-CARES Act (ESG-CV) activities and provides guidance about submitting Annual Action Plan amendments.

Date Published: September 2021

ESG-CV Prevent, Prepare, and Respond Tieback Flexibilities Quick Guide

This resource describes how ESG recipients can document how their ESG funds are being used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19 (also known as "PPR tieback"). This quick guide will help recipients understand this approach and how to apply it.

Date Published: July 2021

Emergency Housing Vouchers Funding Briefs

The purpose of the EHV Funding Briefs series is to provide information on funding that can be utilized to provide services and resources to eligible EHV households.

Date Published: July 2021

ESG-CV Advancing Strategies

This document outlines strategies to help subrecipients manage ESG-CV awards to implement large-scale initiatives utilizing programmatic advances.

Date Published: June 2021

HMIS Project Setup for ESG-CV Funded RRH and HP

This document provides project setup and reporting guidance for communities using ESG-CV funding from different jurisdictions or combining ESG-CV funding with other funding sources in Rapid Rehousing (RRH) or Homelessness Prevention (HP) projects.

Date Published: May 2021

Grants Management Support - Staffing Options for ESG-CV Administration

This document provides recommendations on increasing recipient capacity for administration of the COVID-19 ESG-CV, hiring options, and advancing racial equity through hiring.

Date Published: December 2020

Grants Management - Procurement Strategies for ESG-CV

This document highlights standard practices to expedite COVID-19 ESG-CV procurement processes and help states, local governments, and territories take immediate steps to streamline procedures for funding their subrecipients responding to coronavirus.

Date Published: December 2020

Sample Language for the ESG-CV Project Description in IDIS

This document provides sample language for ESG recipients to use for their Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 ESG-CV project description, required on the AP-35 screen in the IDIS as part of their consolidated planning submission.

Date Published: August 2020

IDIS Fact Sheet for ESG and ESG-CV Funds Setup

This fact sheet assists ESG Program recipients in setting up both ESG and ESG-CV funds in the IDIS.

Date Published: July 2020

Troubleshooting HESG Project Setup in IDIS

This document discusses how to create an FY 2020 ESG project in the IDIS and offers several strategies to avoid common challenges.

Date Published: July 2020

Setting Up a Substantial Amendment for CARES Act Funding

This document discusses how to submit a substantial amendment to incorporate CARES Act funding (CDBG-CV, ESG-CV, and HOPWA-CV) into recently approved Annual Action Plan (AAP) and the review process that local CPD field offices follow.

Date Published: July 2020

Reporting Guidance

HUD requires each recipient of this ESG allocation, referred to as ESG-CV, to submit reports quarterly. ESG-CV recipients will submit their reports through the Sage HMIS Reporting Repository. Detailed information on creating user accounts, generally working in Sage, and completing CSV HMIS data reporting is found in the ESG CAPER Guidebook accessible through the HUD Exchange and via the Resources tab in Sage. Reporting begins the day after the quarter ends and must be submitted within 30 days. For instance, the reporting period for a quarter ending on December 31, 2020 begins on January 1, 2021 and ends on January 30, 2021.

Resources

ESG-CV Reporting Guidance

These documents provide the following quarterly reporting guidance and information to Emergency Solutions Grants CARES Act (ESG-CV) recipients:

  • The Reporting Schedule and Due Dates
  • Report Requirements
  • Temporary Emergency Shelter as Defined by Notice CPD-20-08
  • Report Format
  • ESG-CV Submission Requirements

Date Published: February 2023

ESG-CV Quarterly Reporting Calendar

This document outlines ESG-CV reporting roles and responsibilities and provides an overall timeline of events to ensure those responsibilities are successfully met.

Date Published: September 2020

ESG-CV Reporting Trainings and Office Hours

Some trainings and Office Hours sessions were conducted prior to the release of the ESG-CV Notice. Please use caution when referencing guidance provided in sessions conducted prior to the release of the Notice. If you have questions pertaining to ESG-CV reporting in Sage, please submit a question to the HUD Exchange Ask A Question (AAQ) Portal. To submit a question to the Sage AAQ portal, select “Sage” from the “My question is related to” drop down list on Step 2 of the question submission process.

ESG-CV Q4 Reporting Office Hours

HUD hosted Office Hours to review the ESG-CV quarterly reporting process, including how to report on activities added in the updated ESG-CV Notice, Notice CPD-21-08.

September 30, 2021

State and Territory Recipients: ESG-CV Q2 Reporting Office Hours

HUD hosted Office Hours focused on submitting ESG-CV Q2 reports for state and territory recipients.

March 25, 2021

City and County Recipients: ESG-CV Q2 Reporting Office Hours

HUD hosted Office Hours focused on submitting ESG-CV Q2 reports for city and county recipients.

March 24, 2021

City and County Recipients: ESG-CV Q1 Reporting Office Hours

HUD hosted Office Hours for city and county recipients focused on submitting the Q1 report as well as how to make any updates to the previous reporting period (the initial report) where needed.

December 16, 2020

State and Territory Recipients: ESG-CV Q1 Reporting Office Hours

HUD hosted Office Hours for state and territory recipients focused on submitting the Q1 report as well as how to make any updates to the previous reporting period (the initial report) where needed.

December 10, 2020

ESG-CV Reporting Requirements Training Series for State/Territory ESG Recipients

This training series for state and territory ESG recipients detailed the ESG-CV reporting requirements and provided a live demonstration of the reporting process in Sage.

August 26 - October 1, 2020

ESG-CV Reporting Requirements Training Series for City/County ESG Recipients

This training series for city and county ESG recipients detailed the ESG-CV reporting requirements and provided a live demonstration of the reporting process in Sage.

August 25 - September 29, 2020

ESG-CV Webinars and Office Hours

For ESG-CV reporting Office Hours, visit the Reporting Guidance tab.

ESG and ESG-CV Reporting Office Hours

This webinar:

  • Provided an overview of the required steps to conclude ESG-CV quarterly reporting
  • Provided an overview of the procedures in Sage for closing out Quarterly Performance Reports (QPRs) and reporting final financial information on ESG-CV

September 30, 2022

ESG-CV Funds Reallocation Overview Webinar

This webinar:

  • Provided an overview of the ESG-CV reallocation process
  • Provided an Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS) demonstration
  • Reviewed ESG-CV deadlines and eligible uses
  • Summarized the five key steps ESG-CV recipients must take to receive reallocated ESG-CV funds

August 11, 2022

ESG-CV Recipient Office Hours: Strategies for Meeting the June IDIS Deadline

This Office Hours session reviewed the following:

  • Meeting the June 16, 2022, deadline of 50 percent of ESG-CV funds drawn from IDIS
  • Developing strategies to maximize amount and speed of draws

May 18, 2022

ESG-CV State Recipients Office Hours – May 19, 2022

This Office Hours session reviewed the following:

  • Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS) Tips, Tricks, and Reports
  • Strategies to meet HUD's 50 percent IDIS deadline

May 19, 2022

ESG-CV State Recipients Office Hours – April 21, 2022

This Office Hours session reviewed the following:

  • Fair Market Rent (FMR) Waiver Background
  • HUD Waiver Requirements: Common Justifications and Data Sources
  • How to Request a FMR Waiver: Waiver Tool
  • Recordkeeping
  • Developing a standardized process for subrecipients

April 21, 2022

ESG-CV State Recipients Office Hours – March 17, 2022

This Office Hours session reviewed the following:

  • Rapid Re-housing (RRH) Program Transfer Considerations for ESG-CV
  • Preparation for a Post ESG-CV World

March 17, 2022

ESG-CV State Recipients Office Hours – February 17, 2022

This Office Hours session reviewed the following:

  • ESG-CV Spending Strategies
  • Eligible ESG-CV Pre-Payment Costs
  • ESG-CV Spend Down Strategies: Missouri

February 17, 2022

ESG-CV State Recipients Office Hours – January 20, 2022

This Office Hours session reviewed the following:

  • COVID-19 Testing Opportunities for ESG-CV
  • ESG-CV Spend Down Strategies

January 20, 2022

ESG-CV State Recipients Office Hours – December 16, 2021

This Office Hours session reviewed the following:

  • Direct vs. Indirect Costs
  • Indirect Cost Methods
  • Calculating Indirect Costs
  • Indirect Costs as Administration Costs vs. Activity Delivery Costs

December 16, 2021

ESG-CV State Recipients Office Hours – November 18, 2021

This Office Hours session reviewed the following:

  • Managing Grant Payments in Accordance with Applicable Rules and Requirements
  • Balancing Grant Payment Documentation (Adequate Recordkeeping) vs. Streamlined Grant Payment Process

November 18, 2021

ESG-CV State Recipients Office Hours – October 28, 2021

This Office Hours session reviewed the following:

  • HUD Waiver Update
  • Vaccine Incentives
  • Hazard Pay
  • Spotlight: State of Colorado

October 28, 2021

ESG-CV State Recipients Office Hours – September 30, 2021

This Office Hours session reviewed the following:

  • Situational Awareness for State Recipients
  • Critical Infection Control Thresholds
  • Three Key Steps for State Recipients
  • Leveraging ESG for Response Activities
  • Additional Tools and Products

September 30, 2021

ESG-CV State Recipients Office Hours – July 22, 2021

This Office Hours session reviewed the following:

  • Effective Partnerships with State Domestic Violence Coalitions
  • The Federal Domestic Violence and Housing Technical Assistance Consortium
  • Federal Innovative Responses to the Safe Housing Needs of Survivors
  • Delaware State Housing Authority: Previous Approaches and Lessons Learned

July 22, 2021

ESG-CV State Recipients Office Hours – June 24, 2021

This Office Hours session reviewed the following:

  • Guidance on Obstacles and Opportunities for Spending
  • Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority: Previous Approaches and Lessons Learned

June 24, 2021

ESG-CV State Recipients Office Hours – May 27, 2021

This Office Hours session reviewed the following:

  • Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development: Monitoring Practices
  • Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs)

May 27, 2021

ESG-CV State Recipients Office Hours – April 22, 2021

This Office Hours session reviewed the following:

  • South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA): ESG Subrecipient Expansion: Data Analysis and Findings
  • HUD Technical Assistance (TA) Providers: Racial Equity Demonstration

April 22, 2021

ESG-CV State Recipients Office Hours – March 25, 2021

This Office Hours session reviewed the following:

  • ESG-CV Monitoring Basics
  • Setting Programs Up for Success
  • Common Findings and Issues

March 25, 2021

ESG-CV State Recipients Office Hours – February 25, 2021

This Office Hours session reviewed the following:

  • Revisiting ESG-CV Allocations
  • The Grants Management Tracking Tool
  • Southcentral Foundation, AK Vaccine Roll Out: Strengths and Lessons Learned

February 25, 2021

ESG-CV State Recipients Office Hours – January 28, 2021

This Office Hours session reviewed the following:

  • Updates Regarding Emergency Rental Assistance and Non-Congregate Shelter
  • The Role of State ESG-CV Recipients in Vaccine Planning
  • ESG-CV Allocations to Ensure Program Success and Timeliness

January 28, 2021