The Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) administers the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. This program aims to reduce homelessness by supporting emergency shelter operations, homelessness prevention, rapid rehousing, street outreach, and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) data collection. Eligible applicants must provide evidence of need, a plan for addressing homelessness, and collaboration with local Continuums of Care (CoC). Priority is given to programs aligned with state, HUD, and CoC priorities.

The ESG program provides competitive funding for eligible local governments and 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations serving areas outside HUD ESG entitlement communities (Knoxville, Memphis, and Nashville-Davidson County). The application deadline is March 27, 2025, at 4:00 PM CDT, and awards are anticipated by May 15, 2025, for the grant period July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026. Award amounts range from $35,000 to $125,000 per applicant. The total anticipated allocation is approximately $3 million, with a dollar-for-dollar match requirement for all grantees.