2025-2026 BBCoC DCF Funding Competition

Allowable components include Emergency Shelter, Street Outreach, Rapid Rehousing and Prevention.

The ESG program provides funding to:

1. engage individuals and families living on the street through case management and referral services
2. improve the number and quality of emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families and help operate these shelters by providing essential services including case management to shelter residents
3. rapidly re-house homeless individuals and families through financial assistance and housing stability case management
4. prevent families/individuals from becoming homeless through financial assistance and case management

• Street Outreach: Must serve 2 individuals per month

          Amount Available: $39,433.38

• Emergency Shelter: Must serve 3 individuals per month

          Amount Available: $60,000.00

• Rapid Rehousing: Must serve 1 individual per month

          Amount Available: $60,000.00

• Homelessness Prevention: Must serve 2 individuals per month

          Amount Available: $60,000.00

Challenge Grant funding shall be used locally to assist those individuals or households who are homeless, or those at risk of becoming homeless. The funds may be used to assist those clients defined as homeless in section 420.621(5), Florida Statutes. The intent of the grant is to help implement the local homeless assistance plan, and to help the community reach the goals and objectives outlined in their CoC plan.

Challenge grant allowable activities include housing and program projects.

1. Housing Projects
2. Rental Assistance
3. Hotel/Motel Vouchers
4. Emergency Shelter Operations
5. Case Management
6. Program Projects
7. Covers operational and logistical needs of an innovative homeless service program such as coordinated entry and street outreach
8. Case Management
9. Service Activities
10. Housing Stability Case Management
11. Street Outreach
12. Transportation Assistance
13. Direct Client Assistance (no rental assistance)

• Housing Projects: Must serve 8 individuals per month

          Amount Available: $ 200,000.00

• Program Projects: Must serve 8 individuals per month-  

          Amount Available: $125,000.00

• Service Projects: Must serve 10 individuals per month

          Amount Available: $235,000.00

The purpose of the Homelessness Prevention Grant Program is to assist eligible families to prevent the family from becoming homeless and to maintain stable housing following the assistance from the grant.

The Homelessness Prevention Grant may be used to pay the following costs to assist eligible families avoid homelessness:

1. Past due rent payments, not to exceed four (4) months of rent payment.
2. Past due utility bills, not to exceed four (4) months in arrears for electric, gas, water and sewer only.
3. Staff and operating costs for the provision of the required case management services to be provided to the eligible families assisted.
4. Households served must be under 200% of the poverty level as identified by HUD.

• Homelessness Prevention: Must serve 1 individual/1 household per month

          Amount Available: $20,000.00

• Case Management: Must serve 1 individual/1 household per month

          Amount Available: 10,600.91

Generally, all ESG factors apply to ESG – RUSH except for special circumstances and client eligibility. Three eligibility factors must be met:

1. Be homeless or at risk of homelessness
2. Have been residing in an area affected by a major disaster declared pursuant to the Stafford Act on or after December 20, 2019 (e.g., an area covered by DR-4673-FL, dated September 29, 2022); AND
3. Have needs that will not be served or fully met by the TSA Program (42 USC 5170b) and other existing Federal disaster relief programs (including both Federal and non-Federal cost share).

If the client is already found eligible for ESG prior to the disaster, households are not required to re-qualify as homeless or at risk of homelessness for assistance under RUSH.

The ESG RUSH program provides funding to:

1. engage individuals and families living on the street through case management and referral services
2. improve the number and quality of emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families and help operate these shelters by providing essential services including case management to shelter residents
3. rapidly re-house homeless individuals and families through financial assistance and housing stability case management
4. prevent families/individuals from becoming homeless through financial assistance and case management

• Street Outreach: Must serve 2 individuals per month

          Amount Available: $75,000.00

• Emergency Shelter: Must serve 5 individuals per month

          Amount Available: $100,000.00

• Rapid Rehousing: Must serve 2 individuals per month

          Amount Available: $ 100,000.00

• Homelessness Prevention: Must serve 2 individuals per month

          Amount Available: $100,000.00