DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES
Economic Self-Sufficiency Program2009 Emergency Shelter Grant Application
SOLICITATION OF APPLICATIONS FOR
2009 EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANTS
The Department of Children and Families through the Office on Homelessness, hereby solicits applications for the 2009 Federal Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG).
The objectives of the Emergency Shelter Grants program are to increase the number and quality of emergency shelters and transitional housing facilities for homeless individuals and families, to aid this population in transition to permanent homes, and to operate these facilities and provide essential social services. There is a statutory requirement that ESG funds must benefit homeless persons and that costs be provided at a reasonable price and be directly related to an ESG eligible expenditure category.
The ESG program is designed as the first step in a continuum of assistance to prevent homelessness and to enable the homeless population to move steadily toward independent living. The Continuum of Care model is based on the understanding that homelessness is not caused by simple a lack of shelter, but involves a variety of underlying needs. HUD believes the best approach for alleviating homelessness is through a community-based process that provides a comprehensive response to the diverse needs of homeless persons. The fundamental components of a Continuum of Care system are:
●Outreach and assessment to identify a homeless person’s needs;
●Immediate (emergency) shelter as a safe, decent alternative to the streets;
●Transitional housing with appropriate supportive services to help people reach independent living; and
●Permanent housing or permanent supportive housing for the disabled homeless.
Eligible Applicants
The State of Florida, Department of Children and Families, Office on Homelessness, receives funds directly from HUD. Its allocation, except for a portion of the administrative costs, must be made available to the following recipients:
Local governments in the State (any city, county, town, township, parish, village, or other general purpose political subdivision of a state), which may include cities and counties that are ESG grantees; or
Private non-profit organizations (defined as tax-exempt secular or religious organizations described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code), if the local government where the project is located certifies its approval of the project.
Note: State grantees are prohibited from funding projects operated by the agencies of State government.
APPLICATION PACKET AVAILABILITY
Application packets may be found at the following website address: http//www.dcf.state.fl.us/homelessness/
Application packets may also be requested from:
Office on Homelessness
1317 Winewood Boulevard
Building 3, Room 201
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0700
(850)922-4691
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 3:30 p.m., September 22, 2009
