Overview:

​

Funding opportunities for Long Island non-profits focused on homelessness include federal and state grants like the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) from Suffolk County, state programs like the New York State Supportive Housing Program (NYSSHP), and local and foundation grants from organizations such as the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island. Additionally, non-profits can seek funding through the Continuum of Care (CoC) and by applying for grants on Grants.gov. 

​

​

• Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG): 

  A federal grant administered by Suffolk County to provide funding for emergency shelters and homeless prevention programs. Check the Suffolk County Government website for announcements and application guidelines. 

• New York State Supportive Housing Program (NYSSHP): 

  Provides supportive services to help individuals and families remain stably housed. 

• Homeless Housing and Assistance Program (HHAP): 

  A state resource for capital development projects. Funds are awarded through an annual competitive Request for Proposals (RFP). 

• Homeless and Community Renewal (HCR) Programs: 

  Offers programs like the NYS HOME Program, which allows eligible partners to submit a project summary for consideration. 

• Grants.gov: 

  A central online portal for finding and applying for federal grants across various agencies. You can use it to search for grants related to homelessness and housing.

• ​

Local and community funding

• Long Island Coalition for the Homeless (LICH): 

  A local advocacy group that works with non-profits to address homelessness on Long Island. 

• Health and Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI): 

  Maintains a list of funders and partners that may offer grants for health and welfare initiatives, including those related to homelessness. 

• Nassau County Grants: 

  Explore potential grants available through Nassau County, as some may be administered through local government offices or foundations. 

Other funding sources

• Continuum of Care (CoC): 

  A local planning body that coordinates housing and services funding. Your non-profit may need to be referred to state or federal programs through the CoC. 

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): 

  Offers grant programs that support efforts to end homelessness among people with mental and/or substance use disorders. 

​

Corporate and private foundations: 

Research local and national foundations that support homelessness initiatives. Examples include the Amcor Cares Foundation and the New York State Health Foundation. 

​

A long island nonprofit addressing homelessness can seek funding from local and national foundations, some of which are community-based and others focused specifically on housing and human services. Collaborating with established, larger nonprofits such as the United Way of Long Island can also provide access to a wider network of funding partners. 

Local Long Island and New York foundations

Long Island Community Foundation (LICF)

• Focus: Supports a wide range of local nonprofits that aim to improve the quality of life for Long Islanders. Its funding areas include promoting affordable housing and revitalizing communities.

• Details: LICF connects donors with nonprofits and operates collaborative funds, meaning it can facilitate connections to a broad network of local philanthropists. 

United Way of Long Island

• Focus: A well-established organization that focuses on the building blocks of a better life, including health, education, and financial stability. It often supports initiatives that provide aid to vulnerable and at-risk families.

• Details: The United Way raises money from a wide variety of corporate and labor partners on Long Island, including Suffolk Transportation Service, Petro Inc., and MSC Industrial Direct. They also provide grants to community partner services that align with their mission. 

Robin Hood

• Focus: An organization dedicated to fighting poverty in New York City, which includes addressing homelessness and housing instability. Its "Poverty Tracker" study informs its grant-making strategies.

• Details: While based in NYC, its work can inform and potentially extend to Long Island initiatives, especially those dealing with policy, data, and innovative anti-poverty strategies. 

The Double-R Foundation

• Focus: Supports volunteer-based organizations in the New York City area that provide services for those in need. Its past funding has included support for homeless shelters and related programs.

• Details: Most of its grants range from $10,000 to $25,000 and often support general operating needs or specific projects. 

National foundations with a local focus

William G. McGowan Charitable Fund

• Focus: A national fund with a specific focus on human services. It aims to end cycles of poverty and suffering, with homelessness remediation and prevention being one of its specific areas of support.

• Details: The fund provides grants to programs that have measurable outcomes, focus on basic human needs, and stabilize individuals and families. 

Amcor Cares Foundation

• Focus: The principal philanthropic tool in the United States for the packaging company Amcor. Its grants encourage community support, and one of its key funding priorities is fighting hunger and homelessness. 

Potential corporate partners

Several Long Island businesses partner with or support local nonprofits that assist the homeless. These relationships can provide a starting point for building a corporate funding strategy.

• NBTY: A vitamin and supplement company that sponsors the "Hope for the Homeless" program through Long Island Cares.

• D'Addario & Company, Inc.: Listed as a partner for the United Way of Long Island.

• Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C.: A Long Island-based law firm that partners with the United Way of Long Island. 

Tips for securing funding

• Connect with existing partners: Reach out to the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless (LICH) and Long Island Cares, as they already work with corporate and private foundations to coordinate local services.

• Highlight unique programs: Emphasize any innovative or hyper-local initiatives your nonprofit offers. The Umma Foundation, for example, received recognition for its hyper-local Ramadan campaign and non-profit restaurant.

• Demonstrate measurable impact: Foundations like the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund prioritize programs that show a proven and measurable impact on the community.

• Look for RFPs: Regularly check for open Request for Proposals (RFPs) from state and local government agencies. For example, the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) issues RFPs for its Homeless Housing and Assistance Program (HHAP). 

​

Prior Examples of Funding Opportunities:

​

NYS: 2025 ESSHI funds for Supported Housing

​

Financial Assistance and Housing:

• Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSP):

  This program, administered by the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI), provides funding for rent, mortgage, and utility assistance. 

• Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG):

• Nassau County, Town of Islip, Town of Brookhaven, and NYS uses ESG funds to support emergency shelters, rapid rehousing, street outreach and homeless prevention programs. Contact your local jurisdiction for more information.  

​

Interested in operating a shelter?

​

Shelters for single adults or families require approval from local DSS and NYS shelter certification

​​

​

Previous and General Links:

​

OMH: Enhanced Housing for Young Adults with Serious Mental Illness - 2023

​

OMH: Housing First Scattered Site Supportive Housing for Homeless Adults - 2023

​

Scattered Site Supportive Housing for Individuals Re-entering the Community from Prison 2023

​

OMH: Housing First Scattered Site Supportive Housing for Homeless Adults - 2023

​

Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative Funding Link:  https://grantsgateway.ny.gov/intelligrants_NYSGG//module/nysgg/goportal.aspx?NavItem1=4&ngoID=5001937

 

HHAP: https://otda.ny.gov/contracts/2020/HHAP/

 

HOME-ARP: https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/home-arp/

​

NYS HOME: https://hcr.ny.gov/nys-home-program

​

NYS OTDA - Local Commissioners Memorandum, NYS Rental 

 

Medicaid Redesign/DSRIP: https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/redesign/ , https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/redesign/dsrip/overview.htm

 

New York State Health Foundation: https://nyshealthfoundation.org/rfp/2022-special-projects-fund/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAys2MBhDOARIsAFf1D1dMt8LTPKQPX-DiPXLGZJh0S4LhvohpR_gnH2wcA0PR9R5LMYLcscIaAnAmEALw_wcB

 

SAMSHA Funding Opportunities: https://www.samhsa.gov/tloa/tap-development-resources/funding-opportunities

 

Long Island Community Foundation: https://licf.org/

​

ESG Program COVID-19 Funding Request Application Cares Act COVID-19 Funding Allocations - Town of Brookhaven Community Development

​

2018 Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) Round 3

​

All OMH RFP's
 

All OTDA Procurement/Bid Opportunities