The Northwest North Carolina Continuum of Care (NC 516 CoC), serving Watauga, Ashe, Avery,  Wilkes, Alleghany, Mitchell and Yancey counties is charged by the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) to submit a community-wide application (a Regional Application) for Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds on behalf of the NW Continuum of Care.  Agencies that wish to apply for ESG funding for eligible activities were requested to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) by Friday, June 12th, 2026, but an LOI is not required to submit a Project Application for consideration. ESG Project Applications for NC 516 and all required attachments must be sent electronically by Thursday, July 15, 2026 by 8:00 pm to: Lori.Watts@vayahealth.com.

 

The NC 516 Review, Ranking, and Selection subcommittee will notify agencies of funding recommendations and/or rejection or inclusion in the NC 516 Regional Application submission no later than August 10, 2026. Any agency recommended for ESG funding for eligible activities must submit a completed Project Application for ESG eligible activities and all required attachments via the ESG Office Smartsheet by Wednesday, August 19, 2026, 5:00 pm. The NC 516 Regional Application must be submitted on behalf of NC 516 to the ESG Office by Monday, August 24, 2026 by 5:00 pm.

 

This announcement serves as the opportunity for agencies to apply for funding through the FY 2026-27 ESG funding competition. Projects must meet all requirements and be ready to proceed with ESG funded activities by January 1, 2027. Agencies that have submitted an LOI or may be interested in submitting a project application for FY 2026-27 are strongly encouraged to attend one of the ESG Office information/instructional technical assistance sessions.

​

Friday, June 12, 9:30am-11:30am:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8001458832263147353

​

Monday, June 15, 1pm-3pm:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1608800371838627158

​

Thursday, June 18, 9:30am-11:30am:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5453364824148105560

 

Information about ESG activities and requirements can be found at HUD Exchange, Emergency Solutions Grant Program: www.hudexchange.info/esg/ and at NC DHHS https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/aging-and-adult-services/nc-emergency-solutions-grant RFA Application Documents on the NC DHHS_DAAS Grant Opportunities website located at: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/about/grant-opportunities/aging-and-adult-services-grant-opportunities

​

ESG FUNDED PROJECTS ARE DESIGNED TO:
∙ Engage homeless individuals and families living on the street;
∙ Help operate emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families;
∙ Provide essential services to shelter residents;
∙ Rapidly re-house homeless individuals and families; and
∙ Prevent families and individuals from becoming homeless

              

ESG ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES:
∙ Street Outreach
∙ Emergency Shelter
∙ Rapid Re-Housing assistance
∙ Homelessness Prevention
∙ Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) or Comparable database*  
*eligible activity only if in conjunction with another ESG funded eligible activity

 

The amount that each Continuum of Care / Local Planning Area is eligible to apply for is the “NC ESG Fair Share''. Northwest CoC Fair Share for FY 2026-27 is $126,587. No more than 60% of total funds of the Fair Share for NC 516 may be used for Emergency Services (Street Outreach and Emergency Shelter). While there is a maximum percentage for Emergency Services, there is no maximum for Housing Stability (Rapid Re-Housing, Targeted Prevention and HMIS). This means NC 516 may choose to apply for the full 60% of Emergency Response funding or use some of that funding for Housing Stability Activities. The chart below shows the funding that NC 516 may apply for during the FY2026-27 competition and the prescribed limits for each category.

​

ESG Fair Share: NC 516       Emergency Services (60% max.)         Housing Stability (40% min.)

        $126,587                                          $75,952                                              $50,635

 

WHO CAN SUBMIT A PROJECT APPLICATION:

Non-Profit and Local Government Entities that:

• Serve persons residing in NW CoC Geographic Service Area: Alleghany, Ashe, Avery,
  Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey counties.

• Utilize a Low-Barrier approach (Low-Barrier is a model of housing assistance that prioritizes rapid placement and stabilization in permanent housing that does not have service participation requirements or preconditions-such as sobriety or a minimum income threshold).

• Agencies that can/will meet the NC 516 Continuum of Care participation requirements (including but not limited to Coordinated Entry and CoC Governance participation, minimum 75% attendance per year).

• Is prepared to utilize/already utilizing the Homeless Management Information System to record client level data (or HMIS comparable database if Victim Services Provider).

​

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

All Project Applications and the required attachments must be received electronically by Wednesday, July 15, 2026 by 8:00 pm. Project Applications submitted after the deadline will not be reviewed or considered. Incomplete Project Applications may not be considered for funding. Agencies that are not recommended for funding will be provided a written explanation for the reason(s) for not being recommended and will be offered support and technical assistance to improve deficiencies identified during the letter of interest/application process. Agencies have the right to appeal funding recommendation decisions by submitting a formal written letter within 5 business days of being notified by the Project Review Committee of the NW CoC which will respond in writing within 2 business days of receipt of the agency’s written appeal.

 

ESG Project Applications for NC 516 and all required attachments must be sent electronically by Wednesday, July 15, 2026 by 8:00 pm to:

 

Lori Watts

Vice-Chair, Steering Committee of the NC 516 Northwest NC Continuum of Care Lori.Watts@vayahealth.com

825 Wilkesboro Blvd NE, Lenoir, NC 28645

O 828-225-2785 ext. 4409 or 1-800-893-6246 x 4409 | F 828-452-3743

​

ATTACHMENTS 

​

• NC 516 CoC ESG RFA Web Posting and Notice 2026 Final

• NC 516 Northwest CoC ESG Project Scorecard FY2026-27 Final

• NC 516 Appeals Policy

• 1 – ESG FY26-27 Public Notification

• 2 – 2026-27 Fair Share Explainer

• 3 – ESG FY26-27 Application Information

• 4 – ESG FY 26-27 NC ESG Project Application – New Applicants

• 4 – ESG FY 26-27 NC ESG Project Application – Returning Applicants Final

• 7 – ESG FY26-27 Project Budgets