The Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program helps individuals and families quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) makes these funds available to eligible private nonprofit organizations through a competitive solicitation and procurement process. The Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program is authorized by subtitle B of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11371-11378).
The ESG program provides funding to:
Essential Services related to reaching out to unsheltered homeless individuals and families, connecting them with emergency shelter, housing, or critical services, and providing them with urgent, non-facility-based care. Eligible costs include engagement, case management, emergency health and mental health services, transportation, and services for special populations. See 24 CFR 576.101.
Renovation, including major rehabilitation or conversion, of a building to serve as an emergency shelter. The emergency shelter must be owned by a government entity or private nonprofit organization. The shelter must serve homeless persons for at least 3 or 10 years, depending on the type of renovation and the value of the building. Note: Property acquisition and new construction are ineligible ESG activities.
Essential Services, including case management, child care, education services, employment assistance and job training, outpatient health services, legal services, life skills training, mental health services, substance abuse treatment services, transportation, and services for special populations.
Shelter Operations, including maintenance, rent, repair, security, fuel, equipment, insurance, utilities, food, furnishings, and supplies necessary for the operation of the emergency shelter. Where no appropriate emergency shelter is available for a homeless family or individual, eligible costs may also include a hotel or motel voucher for that family or individual.
Housing relocation and stabilization services and short-and/or medium-term rental assistance as necessary to prevent the individual or family from moving to an emergency shelter, a place not meant for human habitation, or another place described in paragraph (1) of the homeless definition.
The costs of homelessness prevention are only eligible to the extent that the assistance is necessary to help the program participant regain stability in their current housing or move into other permanent housing and achieve stability in that housing.
Eligible costs include:
Housing relocation and stabilization services and/or short-and/or medium-term rental assistance as necessary to help individuals or families living in shelters or in places not meant for human habitation move as quickly as possible into permanent housing and achieve stability in that housing.
Eligible costs include:
ESG funds may be used to pay for the costs of participating in and contributing to the HMIS designated by the Continuum of Care for the area. More information about using an HMIS is available on the HMIS page.
The County anticipates an ESG allocation of approximately $250,000. The application will be available beginning September 1, 2026 and will be due on November 16, 2026.
For more information on the ESG program or to provide feedback on past use of program funds, it is encouraged to attend one of the Public Hearings scheduled in August:
Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.
Register online: https://tinyurl.com/w5zna54w
Dial-in: 1-669-254-5252
Meeting ID: 165 544 0437
Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.
Office of Housing and Community Development
1990 Kinoʻole Street, Conference Room 104
Hilo, Hawaiʻi 96720
The County encourages participation by all residents, particularly low- and moderate-income persons, minorities, persons with disabilities, and persons with limited English proficiency.
Individuals requiring auxiliary aids, language assistance, or other reasonable accommodations should contact OHCD at (808) 961-8379 at least 10 calendar days before the applicable public hearing.
View the Program Year 2026 ESG Proposal and Application Packet here
The Request for Proposals (RFP) was open from September 2, 2025, through November 14, 2025. The OHCD received only 1 proposal. The total ESG allocation was $275,851.00.
| Project Name | Amount |
|---|---|
| Hope Services Hawaiʻi | $255,163.00 |
| Administration and Planning | $ 20,688.00 |
| Total: | $275,851.00 |
The Request for Proposals (RFP) was open from September 2, 2025, through November 14, 2025. The OHCD received only 1 proposal. The total anticipated ESG allocation is $275,851.00. The final ESG project and administration amounts may be adjusted based on the actual allocation. The County intends to dedicate 7.5% of the total for County administration, with the remaining funds supporting the project.
| Project Name | Amount |
|---|---|
| Hope Services Hawaiʻi | $255,163.00 |
| Administration and Planning | $ 20,688.00 |
| Total: | $275,851.00 |