Background | Purpose | Limitations
Matching Funds Requirements | Applications | Information
FY '05 and '06 Emergency Shelter Grants Program Request for Proposals Package

Background

The Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, as amended, and the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act of 1990 authorize the Emergency Shelter Grant Program under the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). From funds appropriated for this program, HUD is authorized to make formula grants to States, certain designated local governments (formula grantees), and for Indian Tribes. The City Parish receives formula ESGP funds from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and competes annually for ESGP funding made available through the Louisiana Department of Social Services/Office of Community Services. Through a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process, funds may be awarded to successful non-profit applicants to carry out the purposes of the Emergency Shelter Grant Program.

Purpose

The purpose of the Emergency Shelter Grant Program (ESGP) is:

1. Help improve the quality of existing emergency shelters for the homeless.
2. Help make available additional emergency shelter.
3. Help meet the costs of operating emergency shelters and of providing certain essential social services to homeless individuals, so that homeless persons have access not only to safe and sanitary shelter, but also to the supportive services and other kinds of assistance they need to improve their living situations.
4. To restrict the increase of homelessness through the funding of homeless prevention programs and activities.

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

1. Renovation, major rehabilitation, or conversion of buildings for use as emergency shelters for the homeless.
2. Provision of essential services to the homeless. Essential services include services concerned with employment, health, drug abuse, and education and may also include and limited to:
   1. assistance in obtaining permanent housing
   2. medical and psychological counseling and supervision
   3. employment counseling
   4. nutritional counseling
   5. substance abuse treatment and counseling
   6. help to clients in obtaining other federal, state and local assistance
   7. additional services such as child care, transportation, job placement, and job training
   8. staff salaries necessary to provide the above essential service.

   Grant amounts may be used to provide an essential service only if:

   1. the service is a new service
   2. a quantifiable increase in the level of a service above that which the recipient provided with local funds during the last 12 months immediately before the receipt of initial grant amounts
   3. not more than 30 percent of the City Parish's ESG Program funding can be used for essential service activities.

3. Payment of maintenance, operations (including shelter administration), rent, repair, security, fuels and equipment, insurance, utilities and furnishings. A maximum of only 10% of ESG amounts may be spent on staff costs of operations related to emergency shelter.
4. Developing and implementing homeless prevention activities. Homeless prevention activities are those designed to prevent the incidence of homelessness including and not limited to:
   1. short-term subsidies to defray rent and utility arrearages for families that have received eviction or utility termination notices
   2. security deposits or first month's rent to permit a homeless family to move into its own dwelling
   3. mediation programs for landlord-tenant disputes
   4. legal services programs for the representation of indigent tenants in eviction proceedings
   5. payments to prevent foreclosure on a home and other innovative programs and activities designed to prevent the incidence of homelessness

   If grant funds for homeless prevention activities are to be used to assist families that have received eviction notices or notices of termination of utility services, the following conditions must be met:

   1. The inability of the family to make the required payments must be the result of a sudden reduction in income.
      
   2. The assistance must be necessary to avoid eviction of the family or termination of services to the family.
      
   3. There must be a reasonable prospect that the family will be able to resume payments within a reasonable period of time.
      
   4. The assistance must not supplant funding for preexisting homeless prevention activities from any other sources.

   Not more than 30 percent of ESG program funding may be used for homeless prevention activities. This is a separate cap from the 30 percent maximum, applicable to essential service activities.

Limitations on the Use of ESG Funds

Ineligible Activities:

ESGP amount may not be used for activities other than those specifically authorized,

Primarily Religious Organizations.

Grant amounts may not be used to renovate, rehabilitate, or convert buildings owned by primarily religious organizations unless special conditions are met in compliance with program regulations.

ESGP assistance may be provided to a primarily religious organization, if the organization agrees to provide eligible activities in a manner that is free from religious influences and in accordance with principles stated in ESG Program regulations.

The use of ESGP funds for general administrative costs of non-profit subgrantees is ineligible.

Matching Funds Requirements

ESGP Sub-Recipients are required to provide matching funds in an amount at least equal to their approved ESGP funding amounts for eligible program activities. Matching funds must be derived from sources other than the Program, and only funds provided after the date of the grant award to the City Parish will be considered as eligible matching funds.

In calculating the amount of matching funds, the following types may be included: the value of any donated material or building, the value of any lease on a building; any salary paid to staff of the nonprofit sub-recipient (as appropriate) in carrying out the emergency shelter program; and the time and services contributed by volunteers to carry out the emergency shelter program, determined at the rate of $5 per hour.

City-Parish Application Procedures

There is a formal competitive application process, a Request for Proposals (RFP) for non-profit organizations to request ESGP assistance from the City-Parish. Evidence of status as a private non-profit organization, and as a tax-exempt 501(c) organization is required of all applicants. Initially required information includes: Specifics on the proposed project, including type and number of clients to be served, services provided, location, and proposed budget, written assurances that grant matching requirements can be adequately met, as well as all other grant certifications; eligibility of proposed activities; and the person or staff to be responsible for the grant administration, if funded.

Based upon HUD's or the State's application submittal ESG commitment deadlines, the City-Parish Office of Community Development establishes annual RFP submission deadlines. The City-Parish receives annual ESG formula funding from HUD, and competes for ESG funds annually via application to the State Louisiana Department of Social Services. All known current, past or possible ESG sub-recipients are notified as to the availability of ESG funding and proposal submission packages.

Other notices and announcements are made when appropriate to identifying other, potential sub-recipients, including public notice publication and posting on OCD's internet site.

Application

The Office of Community Development administers the Emergency Shelter Grant Program for the City Parish. No proposals are accepted except pursuant to a specific Request for Proposals issued by OCD. Proposals must be on forms issued under the RFP and in accordance with RFP submission instructions. RFP submission deadlines are firm, and no proposal submitted after the deadline will be accepted nor considered. No RFP forms or instructions will be released until the date specified in the RFP.

Additional Information

For additional information contact:

Sharon St. Romain, ESGP Coordinator
City of Baton Rouge & Parish of East Baton Rouge
Office of Community Development
P. O. Box 1471
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Phone: (225) 389-3039 Fax: (225) 389-3939
or E-mail: ocd@brgov.com

For potential applicants interested in making advance preparations for a possible submission, sample copies of the most recent RFP package are available. The latest package may be downloaded from the link provided below. For your convenience printed copies are mailed upon request. Copies are for information only, and not to be used for a subsequent proposal solicitation.