Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
The Community Development Division manages the City of Colorado Springs’ Entitlement funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Our mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for citizens in Colorado Springs.
The Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) provides federal funds to organizations that assist individuals and families to quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness.
The ESG Program has five (5) program components:
- Street outreach
- Emergency shelter
- Homelessness prevention
- Rapid re-housing assistance
- Data collection via Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds are provided by HUD in order to assist extremely low-income persons (30% AMI or below) individuals and families to quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness.
Our Funding
The City of Colorado Springs’ Community Development Division provides funding to local 501(c)(3)/ 509(a) non-profit organizations, and public agencies that serve low- to moderate-income community members. As the grantee of funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the City of Colorado Springs Community Development Division administers funding to successful local applicants (subgrantees) for one program year.
The beneficiaries of ESG programs must meet one of HUD’s categories of homelessness:
- Literally homeless: Individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence (with stipulated provisions)
- Imminent Risk of Homelessness: An individual or family who will imminently lose their primary nighttime residence (with stipulated provisions).
- Homeless under other Federal Statutes: Unaccompanied youth under 25 years of age, or families with Category 3 children and youth, who do not otherwise qualify as homeless under this definition (with stipulated provisions).
- Fleeing or Attempting to Flee Domestic Violence (with stipulated provisions).
What is Low to Moderate Income (LMI)?
Low- to moderate-income (also referred to as LMI) is a measure of a household's income in comparison to the Area Median Income (AMI). In this case, the annual income is less than 80% of the area median income (AMI) or less, as established by HUD.
- Extremely Low Income is 0-30% AMI, Very Low Income is 30-50% AMI
- Low Income is 50-80% AMI, Moderate income is over 80% AMI = Over Limits
- Click here to access the Nationwide HUD mapping tool
Organizations interested in applying
The City of Colorado Springs funding program year runs from April 1st to March 30th. As such, the Community Development Division generally releases a Notice of Funding Availability (solicitation for applications) around mid-February to late March.
City of Colorado Springs Written Standards
The City of Colorado Springs has developed written standards for providing assistance with Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) funds. These standards were created in coordination with the Pikes Peak Continuum of Care (PPCoC) which includes nonprofit and for-profit homeless service providers inclusive of health, mental health, and substance abuse providers, local, state and federal government representatives, businesses and corporations, philanthropic organizations and individuals, and persons currently or having formerly experienced homelessness within the CoC geographic area. These written standards are subject to periodic updates.
Notice of Funding availability
The City is making $100,000 available for rapid rehousing and homelessness prevention projects.
- The award minimum for ESG is $25,000 and maximum is $100,000.
- Applicants must be members of the Pikes Peak Continuum of Care.
- Applicants must use HMIS and participate in Coordinated Entry, except for domestic violence (DV) service providers.
- Projects must adhere to ESG rapid rehousing and homelessness prevention requirements as outlined in the City’s ESG Written Standards .HUD also provides helpful guidance here.
- Applicants must be able to provide one-to-one (dollar for dollar) match on proposed projects. Budget items covered by matching funds must meet the same eligibility requirements as expenses paid by ESG funds. Guarantee of match must be provided at the time of application via letter of commitment from donor, organizational budget, or notice of award from another funding source. If awarded, proof of match expenditure must be documented within the 2023 program year before the final request for reimbursement is paid.
Technical Assistance
We recommend at least 1 representative (preferably the grant administrator) attend an online digital office hours session. CDD staff will host digital office hours to offer technical assistance and go over specific questions from applicants on the following dates:
Applicants are encouraged to attend one session of digital office hours for information and inquiries. No registration necessary. We advise that applicants review the 2023 CDBG and ESG Application Guide and take advantage of the digital office hours to assess one’s eligibility and fully understand the requirements before an agency invests the time and resources necessary to apply.
Digital Workshop Session #1: Tuesday April 4th, 2023, 9am -10am MST. Click here to join the meeting. Meeting ID: 252 222 387 703
Passcode: N9qK9X Download Teams | Join on the web Or call in (audio only) +1 720-617-3426,,894171777# United States, Denver Phone Conference ID: 894 171 777# Find a local number | Reset PIN
Digital Workshop Session #2: Wednesday April 5th 1pm-2pm MST April 4th, 2023. Join on your computer, mobile app or room device
Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 247 693 296 514 Passcode: RfxrNp Download Teams | Join on the web Or call in (audio only)
+1 720-617-3426,,687022625# United States, Denver Phone Conference ID: 687 022 625# Find a local number | Reset PIN
Digital Workshop Session #3: Wednesday April 7th 10:30AM-11:30AM MST. Join on your computer, mobile app or room device
Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 254 545 452 409 Passcode: zsTivD Download Teams | Join on the web Or call in (audio only)
+1 720-617-3426,,55692973# United States, Denver Phone Conference ID: 556 929 73# Find a local number | Reset PIN
Application Information
The application period for program year 2023 Emergency Solutions Grant will be available from March 24th, 2023 and will close on April14th 2023 at 11:59pm MST (no exceptions). Applicants must register online with Neighborly Software in order to prepare and submit an application.
There is no limit to the number of applications that an agency may submit, but each project should be submitted as its own application. Applications selected for funding may receive less than the requested amount, depending on the number of applications received and the available funding. By applying, funding is not guaranteed to any agency or project.
Questions?
For more information about the ESG programs or applications process please contact the community development division at community.development@coloradosprings.gov