Emergency Services Program
The Emergency Services Program serves individuals, children and families who are experiencing homelessness in Minnesota. Providers receiving Emergency Services Program funds serve a range of populations in need of outreach and emergency shelter services, including veterans, families, single adults, unaccompanied youth, seniors, victims of domestic violence, and people with disabling conditions.
Counties, Tribal Nations and non-profits are eligible to receive funding. Grantees use the funds to support:
- Street outreach
- Drop-in or day shelters
- Overnight emergency shelter (congregate or other shelter settings including hotel/motel, emergency apartments, seasonal warming centers, etc.).
The Minnesota Legislature established the Emergency Services Program in 1997. Base funding was increased to $43 million in the State Fiscal Year 2024-2025 biennium and $68 million in the 2026-2027 biennium: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/2024/cite/256K.49.
Funding information
- Total amount for 2026-2027: $68,688,000
- Total number of grantees: 86 providers (7 Tribal Nations, 9 counties, 70 non-profits)
- Median grant award: $525,880
Highlights from state fiscal year 2025
Over 17,000 people stayed in 63 emergency shelters supported with Emergency Services Program funding. This included almost 9,000 people who stayed in shelters where at least some support services were provided. In those shelters, at least 2,500 people exited to stable housing. Program-funded street outreach programs reached 3,927 participants, and over 20,000 were served at drop-in/day centers receiving program funding. Of those served in all Emergency Services Program project types, nearly one in five participants were age 55 or older, and 70% were Native American or people of color.
If you are a provider interested in applying for this funding source, please sign up to receive information about requests for proposals through the Minnesota Department of Human Services at mn.gov/dhs/partners-and-providers/grants-rfps/open-rfps/.