St. Joseph County Housing Consortium

Home Browse Search

Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Reference 91.220(1)(4) 1. Include written standards for providing ESG assistance (may include as attachment) 2024 Emergency Solutions Grants funds will be used to support local recipients'emergency shelter operations,transitional housing operations,and rapid rehousing measures. Specific standards are detailed in the attached ESG manual for the City of South Bend and includes guidance on coordination of services, evaluating and serving clients, shelter and housing standards,and reporting and confidentiality of client data. The Regional Planning Council(RPC)agrees that any client is eligible to receive assistance up to 12 months within a 3-year period as determined by the certification process required for all ESG clients. In December 2014 the RPC agreed to extend the time period for youth to a maximum of 24 months.The RPC anticipates this timeframe to be of assistance,and believes it supports the rapid re-housing emphasis of the program.It is the case manager's responsibility to document client need and ensure that ESG is the most appropriate assistance for the client. Any potential client must go through a detailed intake process in order to determine and document eligibility to participate in the program. Case managers will consistently reevaluate the need for assistance during the 12 month period.All sub-grantees are expected to provide support to clients for the full time necessary to stabilize that client and provide for the likelihood of a positive housing outcome after assistance. Also approved by the RPC in December 2014 was the option for an agency to tier the rent assistance over the 12-month period.For example,100%assistance would be provided for the first three(3)months,75%for months four(4)through six (6), 50%for months seven(7)through nine(9),and 25% for the remaining three months of the period.This scale may be adjusted for youth that are eligible for 24 months of assistance. Attached is the City of South Bend's ESG Manual which was provided to all ESG subrecipients. 2. If the Continuum of Care has established centralized or coordinated assessment system that meets HUD requirements, describe that centralized or coordinated assessment system. The RPC started implementing coordinated entry in 2017.The goal of CE is to increase the efficiency of local response systems and improve fairness and ease of access to resources.In 2024,plans are in place to begin a transition from the previously used VI-SPDAT as an assessment tool,to the Collaborative Housing Assessment Tool(CHAT). The CHAT model was select as it is shorter and uses plain languages in a conversational format which is more client friendly. It is designed to reduce duplication of questions and information regarding clients that has already been recorded in HMIS. Additionally,members of the RPC have specific days/times and locations that were agreed upon for outreach.Monthly meetings occur to review and update the list with referrals being made as appropriate. 3. Identify the process for making sub-awards and describe how the ESG allocation available to private nonprofit organizations (including community and faith-based OMB Control No:2506-0117(exp.07/31/2025) 208