Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG)

The Emergency Shelter Grants program was established by the Homeless Housing Act of 1986 in response to the growing issue of homelessness in the United States. In 1987, the program was incorporated into Title IV of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11371¬11378), now known as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awards these funds to the State of Idaho. The Governor of Idaho has designated Idaho Housing and Finance Association to administer ESG funds on behalf of the State.

The Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program was created to replace the Emergency Shelter Grants program when the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act was signed into law on May 20, 2009. The HEARTH Act amended and reauthorized the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and included major revisions to the Emergency Shelter Grant Program.

The ESG Program is designed to support sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons, as well as those at risk of homelessness, by providing the services necessary to help those persons to regain stability quickly in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis and/or homelessness. The change in program name reflects the change in focus from addressing the needs of the homeless in emergency or transitional shelters to assisting people to regain stability in permanent housing.

2026 ESG Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

ESG funds are awarded on a competitive basis through an application and award process. IHFA will administer one funding round for the 2026 ESG Program.

The application timeline is below:

• June 8 | Application open for submission
• June 8-12 | Intent to Apply open
• June 15 | Application training webinar uploaded to YouTube
• June 15 -19 | Q&A time period opens
• June 22 | Q&A responses released
• July 10 at 5:00 p.m. MST | Application deadline
• September | Awards issued
• October 1 | Grant year begins

IHFA will accept applications from June 8, 2026 until July 10, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. MST. The completed application and required attachments must be submitted through Procorem, a secure portal used to transmit documents.

Please email snap@ihfa.org between June 8 – June 12, 2026 to indicate the agency’s intention to apply for ESG funding. IHFA will then work with you to get access to Procorem so you can submit an application.

All questions related to these guidelines should be directed to:

• Special Needs Assistance Programs team
• Idaho Housing and Finance Association
• Email: snap@ihfa.org