Federal Grants for Homeless Shelters: HUD, FEMA, HHS, VA, and SAMHSA Funding Explained

How federal grants for homeless shelters reach local programs

People often picture a shelter filling out one application to a federal agency and receiving a check. In practice, most federal homeless money moves in layers. Congress funds a program, the agency sets rules and sends money to a state, city, county, or regional group, and that group chooses local shelters and service providers. A small number of programs, such as VA Grant and Per Diem and HHS youth grants, do accept applications directly from nonprofits through Grants.gov.

This means the most useful first step for a new or growing shelter is usually local: meet your city or county homeless services office, join your local Continuum of Care, and learn who manages ESG and FEMA funds in your area.

Main federal programs compared

HUD Continuum of Care program

The Continuum of Care program is HUD’s largest homeless grant. Its rules are in 24 CFR Part 578. Every area of the country is covered by a local Continuum of Care, a planning body made up of shelters, housing providers, local governments, and people with lived experience of homelessness. Each year, or under multi-year awards, HUD publishes a funding notice, and the local CoC ranks the projects in its area and submits one combined application.

• Eligible applicants: nonprofits, states, local governments, and public housing agencies.
• Eligible costs: acquisition, rehabilitation, new construction, leasing, rental assistance, supportive services, operating costs, HMIS, and project administration.
• Match: recipients must match all grant funds except leasing with at least 25% cash or in-kind contributions.
• Reporting: projects must enter data into the local Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).

HUD changed the CoC competition in 2025, and parts of those changes were challenged in court. Priorities, ranking tiers, and timelines can shift from one round to the next, so read the current notice and talk with your CoC lead agency before you plan a new project.

Emergency Solutions Grants for shelter operations

ESG is the federal program most directly tied to running an emergency shelter. Its rules are in 24 CFR Part 576. HUD sends ESG money by formula to states, metropolitan cities, urban counties, and territories. They then award it to local nonprofits and government agencies as subrecipients.

ESG can pay for shelter essential services, such as case management and transportation, and for shelter operations, such as rent, utilities, food, insurance, and maintenance. It can also fund renovation of a shelter building.

FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program

The Emergency Food and Shelter Program is funded through FEMA and run by a National Board that includes the United Way, the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities USA, and other national charities. Money goes to local boards in eligible counties and cities, and each local board picks which agencies receive funds. EFSP can pay for mass shelter, served meals, food pantries, and one month of rent, mortgage, or utility help.

EFSP funding was delayed in 2025 and 2026, and the timing of new phases has varied from place to place. Check the EFSP National Board website or ask your local United Way whether your area has an open application window. Funding amounts and dates are not guaranteed from year to year.

Shelter grants for runaway and homeless youth

HHS’s Family and Youth Services Bureau funds youth shelters under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. The Basic Center Program funds emergency shelter for youth under 18 for up to 21 days, along with family reunification, counseling, and aftercare. The Transitional Living Program supports older homeless youth in longer-term housing. Program rules are in 45 CFR Part 1351. Applications are made directly to HHS when a funding notice opens on Grants.gov.

Veteran programs: Grant and Per Diem and SSVF

The VA Grant and Per Diem program funds community-based organizations that run transitional housing and case management for veterans. VA pays a daily rate for each veteran served. Applications are accepted only in response to a notice on Grants.gov. Rules are in 38 CFR Part 61.

Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) funds private nonprofits and consumer cooperatives to provide rapid rehousing and homelessness prevention, including temporary financial help with rent and deposits. Rules are in 38 CFR Part 62.

SAMHSA PATH for outreach and mental health

Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) is a formula grant from SAMHSA to states and territories. States pass the money to local providers for street outreach, screening, mental health and substance use services, and housing help for people with serious mental illness who are homeless or at risk. Under the PATH statute, states must add at least $1 in non-federal funds for every $3 of federal money. Shelters interested in PATH should contact their state mental health agency.

Registering with SAM.gov and Grants.gov

Any organization applying directly for a federal grant must register in SAM.gov, which assigns a Unique Entity ID (UEI). Registration is free and must be renewed every year. Then create an account on Grants.gov and link it to your organization. Grants.gov’s applicant registration guide walks through each step.

• Start registration several weeks before a deadline; reviews can take time.
• Make sure your legal name and address match IRS records exactly.
• Watch out for companies that charge to “register” you. SAM.gov is free.

Where can a shelter find open funding notices?

Federal agencies post Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) on Grants.gov. Use Grants.gov search and filter by agency (HUD, HHS, VA) or keyword, and sign up for email alerts. SAM.gov Assistance Listings describe each program in detail. To see which local groups already receive federal homeless funds in your area, search awards on USAspending.gov. Your state and city websites post ESG and other pass-through funding rounds.

Building a stronger application

• Join your local CoC and attend meetings well before the competition opens.
• Use HMIS and track outcomes such as exits to housing and returns to homelessness.
• Line up your match early, including in-kind donations like volunteer time and donated space.
• Show partnerships with health centers, schools, employers, and housing providers.
• Read the scoring criteria in the notice and answer each one directly.
• Keep clean finances; federal grants require audits above certain spending levels.

Other funding to combine with federal grants

Few shelters run on federal money alone. Many combine HUD funds with Community Development Block Grants from their city, state housing trust funds, United Way and community foundation grants, faith-based support, and private donations. Local hospitals and health systems sometimes fund medical respite beds. Mixing sources also makes it easier to meet federal match requirements.

If you need a shelter bed now

If you are looking for a place to stay rather than funding for a shelter, these steps are faster:

• Dial 211 or visit 211.org to reach your local coordinated entry and shelter list.
• Veterans: call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838.
• Find options by state on USA.gov emergency housing.

Our guide to government assistance for homeless people covers SNAP, Medicaid, ID replacement, and housing programs. You can also read about grants for homeless people and emergency hotel vouchers for tonight.

First steps for a shelter seeking funding

1. Register in SAM.gov and get your UEI.
2. Contact your local Continuum of Care lead agency and ask to join.
3. Find your ESG office at the state, city, or county level.
4. Ask your United Way about the local EFSP board.
5. Set up Grants.gov alerts for HUD, HHS, and VA homeless programs.
6. Plan your match and start tracking outcomes in HMIS.

Related guides

• Immediate housing assistance for homeless people
• Churches that help the homeless
• Catholic Charities emergency shelter
• Free storage assistance for homeless people

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information, not legal or grant-writing advice. Federal funding rules and timelines change, so always follow the current funding notice. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not a government agency.