New Year’s Reminder: Review Available ESG Resources on the HUD Exchange

Happy New Year! While ringing in the start of 2018, HUD’s Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAPS) would like to remind you of the many resources available on the HUD Exchange for Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program recipients and subrecipients. Whether you are new to the ESG Program or just need a refresher, please take some time to browse through the guides, tools, and webinars designed to help you administer your program with greater ease and efficiency. Here is a catalogue of ESG Program materials to assist you: ESG Resources Page The ESG resources page is the central hub for all ESG information, where you can access ESG-applicable laws, regulations, and notices, plus ESG Program guides, tools, and webinars. These are all excellent resources to help staff learn or better understand the program. This page also houses links where staff can read past listserv messages, submit a question to the Ask a Question (AAQ) portal, view ESG award amounts, and find resources for ESG planning and reporting. New to ESG? The following resources describe the basic ESG Program requirements: ESG Program Fact Sheet ESG Program Components Quick Reference Guide Introduction to ESG Webinar General Program Requirements for ESG Webinar ESG Components and Activities Webinar Key Concepts and Requirements Periodically, HUD issues short “SNAPS-Shots” covering key concepts related to ESG program requirements: Eligible Activities for ESG Rapid Re-Housing and Homelessness Prevention Components Eligible Participants for ESG Rapid Re-Housing and Homelessness Prevention Components Requirements for Rental Assistance Agreements and Leases Under ESG ESG Requirements for Case Management to Help Ensure Housing Stability: Rapid Re-Housing and Homelessness Prevention Assistance Assigning Essential Services to the Appropriate Program Component Emergency Shelters: Distinguishing Between Renovation/Conversion and Maintenance Activities Using Contractors in the ESG and CoC Programs Other critical program requirements are detailed in two in-depth guidance documents and a matrix: ESG Minimum Habitability Standards for Emergency Shelters and Permanent Housing ESG Rent Reasonableness and Fair Market Rent Applicable Requirements for Rental Assistance and Housing Relocation and Stabilization Services Matrix Eligibility and Documentation Understanding the homeless and at risk of homelessness definitions can be challenging for some communities – especially when it comes to determining and documenting eligibility for ESG rapid re-housing and homelessness prevention assistance. It is critical that recipients and subrecipients are evaluating individuals and families for assistance correctly – not only for compliance purposes but also to ensure that ESG funds are being used to serve those most in need of assistance. The following materials can help providers correctly determine and document program participant eligibility: At Risk Status and Income: Recordkeeping Requirements Webinar for ESG Grantees Homeless Status: Recordkeeping Requirements Webinar Determining Homeless and At-Risk Status, Income and Disability Webinar The Homeless Definition and Eligibility for SHP, SPC, and ESG Criteria and Recordkeeping Requirements for Definition of Homelessness Criteria for Definition of At Risk of Homelessness SNAPS-Shot: Eligible Participants for ESG Rapid Re-Housing and Homelessness Prevention Components Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH): Defining "Chronically Homeless" Final Rule SNAPS In Focus: Final Rule on Defining "Chronically Homeless" Part II: Policy and Practical Implications of the New Definition Data Collection, Reporting, & Planning There are multiple data collection and reporting systems that are relevant for ESG recipients and subrecipients, including the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), the Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS), eCon Planning Suite (located within IDIS), and the Sage HMIS Reporting Repository (Sage). The following materials can help recipients and subrecipients understand these various data collection and reporting system requirements: HMIS ESG Program HMIS Manual CoC APR and ESG CAPER HMIS Programming Specifications IDIS Using IDIS Online for the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program Manual Using IDIS Online for the Emergency Solutions Grants Program Webinar Using IDIS for Financial Management Webinar Revising IDIS Vouchers for the ESG Program Webinar ESG Program Grant Life Cycle in IDIS Webinar Guidance for ESG Recipients: Grant Based Accounting eCon Planning Suite & Consolidated Planning Consolidated Plan in IDIS Desk Guide ESG Checklist of Requirements for the Homelessness Portions of Consolidated Plan Annual Action Plan ESG and Consolidated Plan Conforming Amendments: An Overview of Changes Sage Sage ESG CAPER Guidebook for ESG-funded Programs ESG CAPER: Sage HMIS Reporting Repository Template Sage Guidance for ESG Recipients Webinar Sage Guidance for ESG Subrecipients Webinar Important Cross-Cutting Concepts Some cross-cutting programmatic practices are required by the ESG regulations, such as consultation with Continuums of Care (CoCs) and participation in coordinated entry. HUD strongly encourages recipients and subrecipients to adopt other key program elements, such as emphasizing rapid re-housing, implementing a low-barrier approach to emergency shelter, and using a Housing First model. While not all are ESG Program-specific, the following resources can assist recipients and subrecipients to understand and incorporate these important practices into their communities’ efforts to end homelessness: SNAPS In Focus: Rapid Re-Housing As a Model and Best Practice HUD and USICH: Core Principles of Housing First and Rapid Re-Housing Webinar Coordinated Entry Policy Brief Coordinated Entry Requirements and Checklist of Essential Elements SNAPS In Focus: Improving our Crisis Response System Coordination and Collaboration for CoCs and Con Plan Jurisdictions Guide and Video Emergency Solutions Grants State Recipient Consultation with Continuums of Care FY 2016 CoC-Con Plan Jurisdiction and ESG Recipient Crosswalk Disaster Recovery Homelessness Toolkit Disease Risks and Homelessness ESG FAQs Through the publication of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), HUD offers clarifying information and guidance that may not be stated as explicitly elsewhere. All ESG Program FAQs are available on the ESG Program FAQs page. Sign up for ESG Listserv Don’t miss out when new resources and updates to existing ESG Program materials are posted to the HUD Exchange! Ensure you are signed up for the HUD Exchange ESG Listserv to receive announcements by going to the HUD Exchange Mailing List and selecting "ESG" from the program list. Visit the HUD Exchange at https://www.hudexchange.info