The Ultimate 2023 Guide to Homeless Assistance Grants

Right now, more than half a million Americans are homeless. Youth, veterans, aging populations, and individuals with disabilities are particularly at risk of being unable to secure affordable, stable housing. The National Conference of State Legislatures estimates that on any given night, more than 40,000 unaccompanied youth aged 13 – 25 are without housing. Many of these individuals rely on rental assistance, vouchers, emergency shelter, and public housing programs.

Thankfully, numerous public and private organizations provide various layers of support to homeless individuals and families. There are currently more than 11,000 organizations providing community housing and shelter to homeless individuals in the U.S., and that value has risen by 1% since 2017, according to IBISWorld industry trends.

But some experts believe that growth rate may not be enough, positing that America’s homelessness crisis is primed to get worse before it gets better. The incidence of chronic homelessness, for example, rose by 20% between 2020 and 2021.

So the key question is: How can communities expand homeless assistance programs to support a growing volume of individuals and families in need of affordable housing and supportive services? This comes down to funding.

Local governments may vote to increase general fund allocations to support social services and community-based efforts, and nonprofits steward donor relationships to rally philanthropic support, but the majority of homeless assistance funding comes from the Federal Government. Many states, cities, counties, territories, tribal governments, and nonprofits are eligible to apply for federal homeless assistance grants.

1. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Who Can Apply: States, Local Governments

Grant Description: The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program provides annual funding to communities to help expand affordable housing, livability, and economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income populations. The funds can be used to provide stable housing, reduce blight and economic distress in communities, expand public services, and develop or improve public infrastructures including homeless shelters and rehabilitation facilities.

Program Eligibility: States, cities, and counties are eligible to apply for CDBG grants. At least 70% of the CDBG funds must be used for initiatives benefitting low- and moderate-income populations. While HUD does not issue CDBG funding directly to businesses, nonprofits, or individuals, many municipalities offer smaller CDBG subgrants, such as neighborhood improvement grants or small business economic relief grants, to private nonprofits and eligible civic groups.

Learn More About CDBG Grants

3. Emergency Solutions Grants Program (ESG)

Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Who Can Apply: States, Territories, Local Governments

Grant Description: The Emergency Solutions Grants Program is a formula grant program designed to provide immediate housing solutions to individuals experiencing housing instability and prevent homelessness through a variety of methods. ESG funds can be used to perform street outreach, operate emergency shelters and rapid re-housing assistance, improve or expand a locality’s shelter infrastructure, and deliver interventions to prevent homelessness. ESG funds can also support administrative tasks associated with managing homeless assistance programs, as long as that allocation accounts for less than 7.5% of the recipient’s overall spending.

Program Eligibility: States, cities, territories, and counties are eligible to apply for ESG funds. Cities, counties, and territories have the option to subgrant ESG funds to local nonprofits, whereas states are required to subgrant ESGs to local governments or nonprofits. Every ESG recipient agency is required to consult with their jurisdiction’s continuum of care to help allocate funding.

Learn More About ESG Funding

5. Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals (GBHI)

Funding Agencies: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Who Can Apply: Nonprofits

Grant Description: The Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals (GBHI) Program helps individuals and families experiencing homelessness seek treatment and recovery for substance use disorders. GBHI funds may support outreach, mental screening, substance use assessments, mental health and substance use disorder treatment, housing assistance, health insurance enrollment, and case management services.

Program Eligibility: Public and private nonprofits can apply for GBHI funds.

Learn More About The GBHI Program

7. Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program (GPD)

Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Who Can Apply: Nonprofits, States, Local Governments

Grant Description: The Grants and Per Diem (GPD) Program provides community agencies with funds to support veterans experiencing homelessness. The GPD Program offers capital improvement and case management grants to help homeless veterans achieve housing stability while also increasing their skills and income. Recipients are eligible to receive a per diem of $60 per day per veteran housed, which can be used to cover operational costs and services.

Program Eligibility: Nonprofits, states, local government agencies, and recognized tribal governments are eligible to apply for GPD funds. A notice of funding opportunity will be published once the GPD Program application window reopens.

Learn More About GPD

9. Housing Trust Fund (HTF)

Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Who Can Apply: States, State-Designated Entities

Grant Description: The Housing Trust Fund (HTF) helps states and state-designated entities develop and preserve affordable housing. These grants can be used to produce and maintain affordable housing via new construction, redevelopment, rehabilitation, and acquisition of new property. HTF-assisted units must be maintained as affordable housing for a period of at least 30 years. 

Program Eligibility: States and state-designated entities may apply for HTF grants annually. At least 80% of the funds must be used for rental housing, up to 10% for homeownership programs, and up to 10% of the grant funds can be allocated toward administrative and planning costs. 

Learn More About HTF Grants

11. Mental Health Awareness Training Grants (MHAT)

Funding Agencies: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Who Can Apply: Public Personnel

Grant Description: The Mental Health Awareness Training Grant (MHAT) Program provides public personnel with training to support individuals with severe mental disorders. Unlike many of the other grants mentioned in this guide, this funding is available to individuals, not collective agencies. Through this program, trainees will learn how to identify the signs and symptoms of serious mental illness and emotional disturbances, refer individuals to appropriate services and local resources, and de-escalate mental health crisis situations.

Program Eligibility: School personnel, first responders, fire department personnel, police officers, veterans, and military service members are among eligible trainees who can apply for MHAT. The MHAT application cycle should open in late 2022. Please check the Federal Grants page for more information about MHAT.

Learn More About MHAT

13. Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) Programs

Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Family and Youth Services Bureau

Who Can Apply: Local Governments, Nonprofits, Private Organizations

Grant Description: The collection of Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) Programs provide funding for shelter services to unaccompanied homeless youth. The RHY Basic Center Program helps public and private agencies deliver both physical resources and training and development to youth. The program helps enable organizations to provide up to 21 days of emergency shelter, food, and clothing. Organizations can also use RHY funding to deliver medical and mental health care, employment assistance, education and training, counseling, and reunification services to runaway and homeless youth. The RHY Transitional Living Program provides homeless youth with skills training, education, long-term shelter, physical and behavioral health care, and maternity group homes for pregnant or parenting youth. The RHY Street Outreach Program provides food, clothing, hygiene, and resources that can be redistributed to youth who may have experienced, or are at risk of experiencing, sexual abuse or human trafficking.

Program Eligibility: Public and private organizations that operate youth emergency shelters and provide transitional living programs are eligible to apply for RHY grants. Basic Care Program and Street Outreach Program grants last three years and are awarded annually. Transitional Living Program and Maternity Group Home Program grants are awarded every 3-5 years in five-year cycles. 

Learn More About RHY

15. Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)

Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Who Can Apply: Nonprofits, Cooperatives

Grant Description: The Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program is designed to help veteran households secure permanent housing. These grants help community organizations mobilize resources, providing outreach and case management services to veterans. Through SSVF, veterans can access supportive care, counseling, housing support, legal assistance, childcare, financial planning, transportation assistance, and other essential services. 

Program Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives that provide housing services to very low-income veteran families are eligible for SSVF funding. Very low-income families have incomes that are below 50% of the median family income for the area, according to HUD. The VA is anticipated to post a Notice of Fund Availability in November or December 2022 for programmatic funding beginning on Oct. 1, 2023, and ending on Sept. 30, 2024.

Learn More About SSVF

17. Transforming Lives Through Supported Employment Program

Funding Agencies: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Who Can Apply: Nonprofits, Health Facilities, States, Territories, Tribes, Tribal Organizations, Local Governments

Grant Description: The Transforming Lives Through Supported Employment Program helps individuals over age 16 experiencing serious emotional disturbance (SED), serious mental illness (SMI), or co-occurring mental and substance use disorders (COD) secure employment.

Program Eligibility: States, local governments, territories, tribes, tribal organizations, health facilities, and nonprofits are eligible to apply for these grants. Applications for 2023 are anticipated to be posted in early 2023 on the Federal Grants website. Applications are likely due in March 2023.

Learn More About This Grant Opportunity

Many Federal Homeless Assistance Grants Can Be Used to Cover Case Management Costs

From administrative costs and software expenses to case manager and social worker salaries – several of these homeless assistance grant opportunities can be allocated to the delivery of case management services.

Case management provides critical support to individuals and families experiencing homelessness by providing a holistic approach to resource allocation, health care, employment assistance, and housing services. With case management software, organizations and continuums of care can manage beds, perform intake, keep track of resources and services provided, and pull robust reports for donors, government leaders, and funding agencies.