State Homeland Security Grant Program: Complete Guide to 2026 SHSP Funding and How to Apply

FY 2026 note: FEMA’s FY 2026 HSGP/SHSP Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) has not been released yet. Where this guide references funding levels, priorities, timelines, or requirements, it uses the most recently published NOFO as a reference point. Always confirm the latest details in the FY 2026 NOFO and your State Administrative Agency (SAA) guidance. We’ll update this guide throughout FY 2026 as FEMA releases the NOFO and additional state-specific SHSP guidance and opportunities become available.

The State Homeland Security Program is a key part of the overall approach to building a safe and resilient nation. As threats evolve and communities face more complex security challenges, understanding how to access and use SHSP funding is crucial for organizations that want to enhance regional preparedness and protect their communities. The Homeland Security Grant Program supports planning, organization, equipment purchase, training, exercises, and management and administration across all core capabilities and mission areas.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the state homeland security program, from eligibility to application strategies, to help you navigate the homeland security grant funding landscape successfully.

Key Takeaways

• The State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSP) is part of the FEMA Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)

• Only states, territories, and the District of Columbia, through their designated state administrative agency, apply directly to FEMA. Most organizations apply for SHSP as subrecipients through their state’s process
  
• SHSP-funded projects must align with each state’s Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA), State Preparedness Report (SPR), and State Homeland Security Strategy

• SHSP dollars can fund planning, personnel, equipment, training, exercises, and some modern technologies like AI gun detection and emergency notification systems when they fit the eligibility rules
  
• Applicants should follow the annual FEMA Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and their state’s application process and deadlines

Why the State Homeland Security Grant Matters Now

Gun violence and complex threats are changing how states think about safety. In 2024, gun violence deaths in the US decreased by 5% and mass shootings dropped by 24% compared to 2023 – yet school shootings are still at historic highs. 2024 had the second-highest number of K-12 school shootings ever recorded, and the last four years have seen school shootings 107% higher than any year in the prior 25 years.

The economic impact is just as big: gun violence costs the US economy about $557 billion annually, or $1,700 per American. Against this backdrop, the State Homeland Security Grant Program (often shortened to “State Homeland Security Grant” or SHSGP/SHSP) has become a key funding source for states, municipalities, school districts, hospitals, and other organizations that need to modernize their security.

In fiscal year 2025, the broader Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)  distributed about $1.008 billion nationwide to support state, local, tribal, and territorial preparedness. Within that, FEMA’s FY 2025 target allocations included approximately $373.5 million for SHSP (with the remaining HSGP funding allocated to other components such as UASI and OPSG). Exact amounts vary by fiscal year and are governed by the year-specific NOFO and appropriations.

This is real money and a real opportunity to fund the kinds of modern solutions that can detect threats early, coordinate response, and keep people safe.

What is the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP)

The State Homeland Security Program is one of the three main components of the FEMA Homeland Security Grant Program. This funding stream is the foundation of America’s distributed approach to terrorism preparedness and all-hazards emergency management.

SHSP is authorized and funded annually by Congress through the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is managed at the state level by each State Administrative Agency (SAA). This structure ensures homeland security investments align with local priorities while meeting federal objectives for national preparedness.

The strategy uses a formula-driven risk assessment tool to distribute money to states, the District of Columbia, and US territories based on a minimum allocation formula with additional funding driven by relative risk scores. High-risk cities and smaller communities receive the support they need to meet their goals and build essential skills.

SHSP supports the National Preparedness Goal by helping these regions develop and maintain their 32 core capabilities under five different mission areas: prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. Such investments provide a layered approach to improving interagency cooperation at the federal, state, and territorial levels.

In recent NOFOs, SHSP has also included a required minimum percentage of funding that goes towards supporting national priorities such as electoral security and border crisis response.

Program Purpose and Eligible Activities

SHSP is designed to help states address capability targets identified through their THIRA and State Preparedness Report processes while supporting prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery from terrorism and other catastrophic events. The program is flexible, so states can invest in their highest priority security gaps while meeting federal preparedness objectives.

The main categories of eligible costs under this security grant program are:

• Planning activities: Development of state homeland security strategies, emergency operations plans, and continuity of operations plans that enhance regional preparedness
• Organization initiatives: Fusion centers, specialized response units, and interagency coordination mechanisms that enhance security
• Equipment purchases: Interoperable communications systems, physical security enhancements, detection technologies, and protective equipment that meet FEMA’s Authorized Equipment List requirements
• Training programs: Active shooter response training, Incident Command System courses, specialized skills development, and exercises that prepare personnel for potential terrorist attacks and other threats
• Exercise activities: Full-scale and functional exercises that test capabilities, validate plans, and improve coordination among local units and territorial governments

SHSP can fund technology-based solutions such as AI-powered gun detection platforms and emergency notification systems used to rapidly alert and protect the whole community. These modern capabilities are critical investments in prevention and protection that can offer shorter response times and greater situational awareness in the most critical incidents.

As described in the annual NOFO, M&A costs are allowed up to 5% of the total award amount. These resources represent the administrative overhead needed to properly manage grants and serve the work within the boundaries of federal requirements and the corresponding state oversight responsibilities

Funding Levels and Recent Fiscal Years

The total Homeland Security Grant Program funding has been relatively stable in recent years, with adjustments based on congressional appropriations and evolving risk assessments. Understanding these funding trends helps applicants plan multi-year projects and anticipate available resources for their security initiatives.

Recent HSGP funding levels include:

• FY 2025: $1.008 billion total HSGP across SHSP, UASI, and OPSG (SHSP target allocation ~ $373.5 million)
• FY 2024: $1.008 billion for SHSP, UASI, and OPSG
• FY 2023: $1.12 billion for SHSP, UASI, and OPSG
• FY 2022: $1.12 billion for SHSP, UASI, and OPSG
• FY 2021: $1.12 billion for SHSP, UASI, and OPSG

All funding amounts and allowable cost information are found in the year-specific Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which applicants must review to ensure compliance. 

Applicants should check FEMA and state homeland security websites for changes in funding levels, timelines and program priorities. Early awareness of these updates helps with planning and allows organizations to align their project proposals with national and state priorities.

Eligibility and State-Level Administration

Eligible direct recipients of SHSP are state, territorial and the District of Columbia governments acting through their State Administrative Agency. These recipients receive direct awards from FEMA and will administer SHSP within their state under federal requirements and state needs.

States must pass at least 80% of HSGP funds to local and tribal governments within 45 days of receipt of funds, as defined in the year-specific NOFO.

State Administrative Agencies have responsibilities such as developing the State Homeland Security Strategy, allocating investments based on findings from risk assessment, distributing mandatory portions of funds to local and tribal governments and ensuring grant compliance. SAAs also work with other regional bodies to avoid duplication and maximize federal investments in homeland security.

Many states require applicants to pre-qualify through systems similar to Illinois’s Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) portal, including registration requirements, financial risk assessments and verification of good standing. These processes typically require:

• Registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) with a Unique Entity ID
• Completion of financial capability questionnaires
• Submission of recent audit reports
• Verification of compliance with civil rights and environmental requirements

Proposed projects under SHSGP must engage the whole community, including individuals with disabilities.

Application Process and Timelines

SHSP follows an annual application cycle driven by the NOFO release, with specific deadlines and requirements established by each state’s administrative process. Understanding this timeline is key for organizations planning to submit competitive applications for homeland security funding.

The typical application flow includes these key steps:

1. NOFO release: Federal guidance establishes funding levels, priorities and requirements
2. State guidance: States develop specific application requirements, deadlines and evaluation criteria
3. Local entities prepare applications: Organizations develop project proposals aligned with state and federal requirements. 
4. State review process: Advisory committees or staff review applications based on criteria
5. SAA submits to FEMA: States compile Investment Justifications for selected projects and submit to federal reviewers

Applications must tie proposed activities to THIRA and SPR gaps, show measurable outcomes like faster response times or increased detection coverage, and align core capabilities in relevant mission areas. The best applications also describe how projects will be coordinated across multiple agencies to further regional preparedness.

Many states have applicant briefings, office hours or even webinars to educate subrecipients on requirements and help with developing competitive applications. For example, Colorado has provided named grants coordinators and timelines for local entities to plan for their applications.

Applicants should build realistic project timelines and procurement plans within the project period defined by NOFO, usually 36 months.

Early engagement with state administrative agencies allows the organization to become aware of state priorities, application requirements and evaluation criteria that may differ from federal guidance. This upfront work improves the quality and competitiveness of the applications.

Allowable and Unallowable Costs

While SHSP has flexible funding for homeland security capabilities, all costs must be within federal and state guidance and support terrorism preparedness or dual-use activities that address other hazards. Understanding these cost categories is key to developing compliant and effective budgets.

Allowable costs:

• Personnel costs for homeland security positions or overtime during exercises and emergency responses
• Equipment purchases on FEMA’s Authorized Equipment List that support core capabilities
• Planning activities such as strategy development, vulnerability assessments, and emergency operations plan updates
• Training programs that enhance personnel capabilities in prevention, protection, mitigation, response or recovery
• Exercise costs like planning, conducting and evaluating full-scale or functional exercises
• Technology solutions, including AI gun detection sensors, emergency notification systems and integrated communication platforms, when justified

AI-powered security technologies and emergency notification systems may be allowable when they align with state priorities and show a clear connection to terrorism prevention or response capabilities. These investments should clearly explain the capability gap, the expected outcomes and how the solution meets federal and state requirements.

Unallowable costs:

• Routine construction projects not tied to security enhancements
• General-use vehicles without specialized security equipment or capabilities
• Entertainment, food and beverage costs except in limited training contexts
• Administrative overhead not directly tied to grant objectives
• Equipment or services that duplicate existing capabilities without justification

Applicants should check all proposed purchases against the current Preparedness Grants Manual and year-specific NOFO to avoid disallowed costs. The Authorized Equipment List has detailed information on eligible equipment categories and specific models that meet federal standards.

If unsure about cost allowability, contact your State Administrative Agency before submitting applications. Early clarification prevents application delays and ensures proposed projects meet federal and state requirements.

Coordination with Other Homeland Security Grant Programs

SHSP is designed to work with other HSGP components and related preparedness grants to build a layered, coordinated security approach that maximizes federal investment and prevents duplication of effort. This integrated approach ensures federal resources are invested in the full range of homeland security needs across various geographic and functional areas.

The Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) focuses resources on high-threat, high-density urban areas identified through DHS risk assessments. To ensure regional integration and interoperability and where appropriate, mutual support capabilities, UASI-eligible areas must coordinate their investments with adjacent SHSP-funded activities through the Urban Area Working Groups.

Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) leverages law enforcement in land and maritime border areas by providing reimbursement for state and local government units for joint operations with federal law enforcement agencies along the borders. Border states sometimes consolidate SHSP and OPSG resources to build border security capabilities that have effects beyond the immediate border area.

States often coordinate SHSP with other federal funding streams, such as:

• School safety and security grants for educational facility protection
• Critical infrastructure protection programs for key economic assets
• Public health emergency preparedness grants for medical countermeasures
• Cybersecurity grants for information system protection

This allows for the implementation of holistic security solutions, such as AI-based threat detection, mass notification and multi-agency response protocols integrated across different sources of funding. For example, a state might use SHSP for regional communication systems, UASI for urban detection technologies and school safety grants for educational facility enhancements.

Regional coordination through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) ensures SHSP-funded capabilities are deployable across state lines during major incidents. These requirements create a national preparedness system where resources flow to areas of greatest need regardless of political boundaries.

Using SHSP for Technology, AI Gun Detection and Emergency Notification

Modern threats require innovative technological solutions that can detect and evaluate threats and respond to them faster and more effectively than ever before. The SHSP grant funding allows entities to leverage technology solutions while being able to comply with federal grant guidelines and address identifiable gaps in their homeland security preparedness.

AI gun detection systems are a game-changer in threat prevention, using computer vision algorithms to analyze video streams in real-time to detect firearms before shots are fired. The AI gun detector can be proposed under SHSP if it can be mapped to allowable cost categories, meets procurement and documentation requirements and is accepted under the state’s priorities and review process.

Multi-channel emergency notification systems provide effective communication in a crisis and can facilitate basic capabilities like public information and warning, operations and coordination, and protection of critical infrastructure through message repetition and communication channels. The alert notifications can be delivered through texts, emails, voice notifications, mobile apps, computer notifications and digital signage solutions.

A comprehensive technology project might integrate AI gun detection with emergency notification platforms to create an automated threat response system. For example:

1. Detection phase: AI systems monitor video feeds and identify potential weapon threats
2. Verification phase: Security personnel receive immediate alerts with video evidence for rapid assessment
3. Notification phase: Automated systems trigger lockdown procedures and alert law enforcement while sending specific instructions to affected populations
4. Coordination phase: Integration with 911 systems and law enforcement mobile data terminals ensures rapid response deployment

When developing technology proposals, it’s good practice for organizations to reference the Preparedness Grants Manual and work with their SAA to confirm specific technology configurations, subscription models and support services meet allowability requirements. Documentation of the terrorism nexus and dual-use applications enhances proposals and ensures compliance during the audit process.

Technology investments should include sustainability planning that addresses ongoing maintenance, software updates, training requirements and integration with existing systems beyond the term of the grant. This type of planning demonstrates responsible use of federal funds and increases the likelihood of state support.

Compliance, Reporting and Performance Measurement

SHSP recipients and sub-recipients must comply with federal grant regulations, DHS and FEMA policies and any state requirements that govern the use of federal homeland security funding. Understanding these requirements is key to successful grant management and future funding opportunities.

Typical reporting requirements include quarterly or semiannual programmatic reports that document project progress, challenges and achievements and financial reports that track expenditures against approved budgets. Recipients must also submit closeout documentation that provides final accounting of all grant activities and outcomes achieved through federal funding.

Key compliance areas include:

• Federal procurement standards and competitive bidding requirements
• Environmental and historic preservation (EHP) review processes for construction or modification projects
• Civil rights and nondiscrimination compliance across all grant-funded activities
• Single audit requirements for organizations receiving significant federal funding
• Records retention and documentation standards for audit purposes

Performance measurement should focus on clear outcomes that show improved homeland security capabilities. Good metrics might include:

• Number of personnel trained in homeland security skills
• Reduction in threat detection time through new technology
• Number of facilities under alerting systems
• Exercise outcomes showing improved response times
• Interoperability between agencies and jurisdictions

Documentation should support these performance measures while meeting federal audit requirements. Strong documentation includes procurement records, training certificates, exercise reports, and technology performance data that show effective use of federal funding to enhance community preparedness.

Recipients must also be registered in SAM.gov, submit lobbying and drug-free workplace certifications and ensure sub-recipients meet similar requirements. Regular monitoring of these requirements prevents issues that can impact grant funding or future eligibility.

How to Make Your SHSP Proposal Stronger

Competitive SHSP applications align federal objectives, state priorities and local needs with clear documentation of how proposed projects will measurably improve homeland security capabilities. Successful applicants know that strong proposals tell a story about community vulnerabilities and present evidence-based solutions.

Every activity or purchase should tie to specific capability gaps in the state’s THIRA and SPR, with citations to core capabilities and mission areas. Reviewers look for connections between risks, current capability and proposed improvements that show thoughtful analysis and planning.

Good proposals include:

• Clear problem statements that document vulnerabilities or capability gaps with quantitative data where possible
• Current condition that outlines capabilities and gaps the project will address
• Measurable outcomes that explain how the project will improve security, response time, or community resilience
• Sustainability that outlines maintenance, training, and operational support beyond the grant period
• Partnerships with law enforcement, emergency management, schools, hospitals, and private sector stakeholders

Involving multiple partners in the planning process is a whole community approach. This increases the project’s impact and builds wider support for the project. Gathering letters of support from key stakeholders, creating agreements for resource sharing and coordinating with other grant projects can strengthen applications.

Budget justifications should explain why each cost is necessary, reasonable and cost-effective compared to other options. For technology purchases, include vendor quotes, technical details and comparisons that show why the chosen solution is the best fit for the budget.

Pilot Programs and Grant-Writing Support

Organizations pursuing SHSP-funded security projects often need two things: 

1. Evidence of a documented security gap.

2. A plan to implement and sustain the solution. 

The resources below can help you pilot technology, strengthen your narrative and reduce internal workload while you follow your state’s SHSP application process.

Omnilert Security Grants

Omnilert’s Security Grants demonstrate the company’s commitment to helping schools, non-profits and communities by providing funding for advanced security technology, including AI-powered gun detection. Omnilert has launched programs like the Secure Schools and Safe Haven grants to offer AI gun detection at no cost to eligible schools. For example, Omnilert has expanded its Secure Schools Grant Program to support 50 schools by providing free AI gun detection to help prevent school shootings. 

These programs can help you pilot technology while you pursue larger state or federal grants. Please note that pilot participation does not guarantee SHSP allowability or award selection. SHSP decisions are state-administered and governed by the year-specific NOFO and state priorities.

Grant Assistance Through EMD

For organizations pursuing federal, state or local grant funding, Omnilert partners with EMD, a security grant specialist. EMD’s process, tailored to Omnilert solutions, aligns with what SHSGP expects:

1. Consultation: 30-minute call to review your organization type and security needs and map them to available grant programs (including SHSGP and related homeland security grants).
2. Service Agreement: EMD delivers a proposal outlining services and the grants you’re likely to qualify for, so you know exactly what you’re getting before you start.
3. Information Gathering: 1.5-hour intake session to capture detailed information about your facility, risks and security requirements for use in the grant narrative.
4. TVRA & Investment Justification Drafting: EMD conducts a Threat, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment and prepares your Investment Justification, showing how Omnilert solutions will close documented security gaps.
5. Grant Submission: After your review, EMD finalizes and submits the application. This reduces your internal workload and increases the quality of your application.

Final Thoughts

The State Homeland Security Grant Program is a flexible and powerful funding source. It helps to strengthen prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery capabilities at the state and local level. To increase your chances of getting funded, align your project with your state’s Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) and Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR), follow the current FEMA Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), follow your State Administering Agency (SAA)’s timeline and create a clear budget, expected outcomes and a sustainability plan. By doing this, you’ll ensure your application competes well and leads to measurable improvements in preparedness.

Ready to enhance your safety strategy to detect threats earlier and communicate faster? Omnilert can help. Our AI-powered gun detection and multi-channel emergency notification platform is designed to improve awareness, speed coordination, and protect schools and vulnerable locations – capabilities that often fit SHSP priorities when justified.

Contact us to see how our solutions can map your state’s priorities and strengthen your SHSP-ready project plan.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)