On May 4, 2020, the Office of Community Planning and Development’s (CPD’s) Acting Assistant Secretary John Gibbs released a memorandum urging states and localities not to wait to apply for their Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) and Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) coronavirus response (ESG-CV and HOPWA-CV) allocations.

The memorandum also grants a waiver for plan amendments with instructions on how a grantee may submit an amendment for allocated ESG-CV and HOPWA-CV funds. The expedited process allows a grantee to incorporate ESG-CV and HOPWA-CV funds within the most recent annual action plan.

• View the Memo: CARES Act Flexibilities for ESG and HOPWA Funds Used to Support Coronavirus Response and Plan Amendment Waiver

On April 9, 2020, HUD released a similar memorandum applicable to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program.

• View the Memo: CARES Act Flexibilities for CDBG Funds Used to Support Coronavirus Response and Plan Amendment Waiver

In support of these memoranda, HUD has published IDIS Instructions for CDBG-CV, ESG-CV, and HOPWA-CV for setting up a substantial amendment for CARES Act funding:

• View the IDIS Instructions: Setting Up a Substantial Amendment for CARES Act Funding

For additional COVID-19 resources, visit:

• SNAPS Disease Risks and Homelessness page
• CDBG COVID-19 Resources
• HOPWA Guidance for COVID-19