Funding Notice
Currently there is no funding available for competitive grants. Any change in status will be announced in our department newsletter, available here.
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
The Housing and Homelessness Response Department 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’ Housing and Homelessness Response Department 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 Housing and Community Vitality Department 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
Funding Notice: Currently there is no funding available for competitive grants. Any change in status will be announced in our department newsletter.
Organizations interested in applying
The City of Colorado Springs funding program year runs from April 1st to March 31st. As such the Housing and Homelessness Response Department generally releases a Notice of Funding Availability for competitive grant funds (solicitation for applications) around mid-March to early April each year.
Notice of funding availability
The Housing and Homelessness Response Department is not soliciting applications for competitive awards for the 2025-2026 program year . At this time we have no funding available for competitive awards.
In general, the ESG program has the following requirements when competitive applications are being accepted:
- The award minimum for applications is $25,000
- Awards are subject to HUD program caps per component
Eligibility Basics
As advised, competitive application are not being solicited for the 2025-2026 program year. When competitive applications are being solicited please be advised of the following eligibility basics:
- The award minimum for ESG is $25,000
- 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 program year before the final request for reimbursement is paid.
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.
Resources
For more information review the below resources:
Subscribe to the Housing and Homelessness Response Department newsletter at Newsletter Archive & Sign Up to get NOFA updates.
Questions?
For more information or inquiries about ESG programs, please contact the Housing and Homelessness Response Department at: HousingAndHomelessnessResponse.SMB@coloradosprings.gov.