This rule continues HUD's implementation of the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009 (HEARTH Act), enacted into law on May 20, 2009. The HEARTH Act consolidates three of the separate homeless assistance programs administered by HUD under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act into a single grant program, revises the Emergency Shelter Grants program and renames it the Emergency Solutions Grants program, and creates the Rural Housing Stability program to replace the Rural Homelessness Grant program. The HEARTH Act also codifies in law the Continuum of Care planning process, long a part of HUD's application process to assist homeless persons by providing greater coordination in responding to their needs. This rule provides the regulations to implement the new Emergency Solutions Grants program. The new Emergency Solutions Grants program replaced the Emergency Shelter Grants program. While emergency shelter remains an important component of the Emergency Solutions Grants program, this new program places a greater focus on homeless prevention and rapid re-housing of the homeless.  However, recognizing that recipients have gained valuable experience implementing the interim rule, HUD solicited public comments on specific issues and will consider the comments before issuing a final rule.