Franklin County to apply for roughly $240,000 in federal Emergency Solutions Grant funds to aid homelessness services

Quentin Clapper, the county planning director, presented an agreement to apply for the Department of Community and Economic Development's Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG). Clapper said the county is requesting roughly $240,000 and expects to receive less than the full request; the funds would support emergency shelter, homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing through local partners.

"The amount that we're requesting is roughly 240,000," Clapper said, and he explained that ESG requires a dollar-for-dollar match; local partners such as Waynesboro Community and Human Services and SCAP would use community donations and eligible state and federal grants to meet the match. Commissioners voted to approve moving forward with the application and the matching plan.

Clapper said the grant would help operational costs for the local shelter, support eviction prevention efforts and provide case management for rapid rehousing services.