HomeMy WebLinkAboutHEAP decisions points for FMCoC approval 1_191
HEAP/CESH Request for Proposal Decision Points
FMCoC HEAP Ad Hoc Committee
January 10, 2019
In August 2018, the FMCoC approved an Ad Hoc Committee to determine a funding plan for the State’s
upcoming Continuum of Care HEAP and CESH funding. The City of Fresno joined the FMCoC Ad Hoc
Committee and agreed to plan in tandem for the CoC and Big 11 HEAP funding. The Ad Hoc Committee
membership included the FMCoC Executive Committee, a Veteran Administration representative as well
as two additional FMCoC members. The Ad Hoc committee was charged with developing a plan to
address homelessness through services that would function as a continuum of care which would work to
prevent people from falling into homelessness, looking at those on the verge of homelessness, assist
those who were already homeless, those living on the street and move people into permanent housing
using the pillars recommended in the Street2Home Framework for Action document.
The group met through December of 2018 to develop a funding plan, which was later approved by the
FMCoC. Additionally, the Ad Hoc Committee made specific decisions regarding the funded activities
necessary to develop the Request for Proposal (RFP). The Ad Hoc Committee is requesting the FMCoC’s
approval of the RFP decision points made by the Ad Hoc committee and included in this document.
The Department of Social Services (DSS), as the Administrative Entity for the FMCoC HEAP and CESH
funding, will develop the RFP based on the decision points agreed to by the Ad Hoc Committee and
approved by the FMCoC. Once approved, the County of Fresno, through DSS will develop the RFP,
develop the scoring tools, issue the bid, run the procurement process, assemble the review committees,
and recommend the agreements to be funded. After recommendations are made, the City of Fresno
will develop agreements for the Big 11 HEAP funding and the County of Fresno, through DSS will develop
agreements for the CoC HEAP and CESH funding, both based on the recommendations of the review
committees and consultation between the City and the DSS on the division of services.
The following is not meant to be a comprehensive description of the services to be procured nor is it the
actual RFP. The information below is meant to drive requirements included in the RFP with the RFP
being much more detailed with complete descriptions of the services requested.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS FOR HEAP/CESH FUNDING (including youth set aside services)
1. Non-profit, faith based or for profit allowed.
2. Cities/Counties that declared a Shelter Crisis Resolution within the required time frame (Cities of
Coalinga, Fresno, Huron, Madera, Parlier, Sanger and Counties of Fresno and Madera).
Additional resolutions are not allowed.
3. Government entities within the jurisdictions who declared a Shelter Crisis Resolution (see
above) including Housing Authorities.
4. Must have provided homeless services, i.e. emergency shelter, bridge housing, rapid rehousing,
etc. for a minimum of 12 months within calendar years 2017 and 2018.
5. A member in good standing (as defined by the FMCoC bylaws) of the Fresno Madera Continuum
of Care (FMCoC). If applicant is not a current member of the FMCoC, they must join the CoC as
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a paid member within 30 days of contract execution and must maintain good standing (as
defined in the FMCoC bylaws).
TRIAGE CENTER (TC)
A Triage Center is sought that provides emergency shelter with a full array of services meant to exit
people to permanent housing. The Triage Centers must be staffed and open 24 hours, 7 days a week
and provide on-site wrap around services by professional staff. Funding is available for 100 beds in total
with a maximum of 50 beds per site. It is expected that 2 or 3 facilities will be funded but is dependent
on proposals. Average length of stay is expected to be approximately 45 days with a maximum stay of
90 days (exceptions will be allowed for documented situations). Proposals must include prioritization
process for guests when the number of guests exceed available open spots and the plan for receiving
referrals.
Requirements:
1. The structure to be used as a Triage Center must be a permanent structure. Anything deemed
“temporary” will not be allowed. A permanent structure is one that is placed on the land for the
foreseeable future that is affixed to the ground.
2. The Provider must have control of the building for use as a Triage Center at the time of proposal
submission. No new construction is allowed.
3. Staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
4. As a low barrier center, must be open to all and allow for guests to enter with their pets,
possessions and partners.
5. Spots are open to all who desire the service with guests registered and agreeing to services
provided by the Triage Center.
6. Guests allowed to absent for a maximum of 72 hours without contact and still retain their spot.
Provider to determine number of absent episodes allowed.
7. Triage Center must be a coordinated entry assessment point.
8. Diversion screening component must be included in the proposal. Triage staff should screen a
guest for potential diversion services (see Diversion Services for more information on this
service) and if deemed eligible, refer immediately to Diversion Program staff.
9. TC to include meals, basic services and intensive case management. Provider to determine
depth of each item listed above.
10. Referrals for TC services must be accepted from the FMCoC Coordinated Entry System and
where appropriate, Law Enforcement.
11. All guest information must be entry into HMIS and must meet accuracy and timeliness
standards.
12. TC must includes a minimum staffing ratio of 1 staff to 20 guests.
A Good Neighbor policy is encouraged whereby the Provider is responsible for securing and maintaining
the perimeter of the TC, keeping clear of any nuisances and code violations. If a proposal is submitted
for a restricted population (i.e. veterans, victims of domestic violence, gender based, etc.), a maximum
of 10 beds can be requested for that population. There is a preference for at least one rural TC with a
minimum of 5 beds.
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Required Outcomes (Provider to determine percentages):
1. Percentage of guests with a safe exit from the TC (i.e. their own apartment, drug treatment,
psychiatric treatment, moving with family/friends, etc.)
2. Percentage of clients engaged in services.
3. Bed/facility utilization rate.
Priority will be given to proposals that prioritize funding for direct client services. Costs for minor facility
improvement is allowed but must be reasonable, necessary and minimal. Facility improvements are
only allowed in jurisdictions that declared a Shelter Crisis Resolution (see cities/counties mentioned
above). Proposals must demonstrate relationships with FMCoC, other homeless service providers and
appropriate entities. Provider must be ready to begin providing TC services within 45 days of contract
award.
BRIDGE HOUSING (BH)
Bridge Housing provides safe, temporary housing used in the short-term when a household has been
offered and accepted a permanent housing intervention or plan and are awaiting placement. Resident
goals are short-term with the focus on moving to permanent housing with services highly integrated
with the permanent housing provider. Funding is available for a total of 60 beds. It is expected that 1 to
3 facilities will be funded but is dependent on proposals. The maximum length of stay is 6 months
(exceptions will be allowed for documented situations). Proposals must include prioritization process
for clients when clients exceed available open spots and the plan for receiving referrals.
Requirements:
1. The Provider must have control of the building for use as a Bridge Housing at the time of
proposal submission. No new construction is allowed.
2. Staffed 24 hours, 7 days a week.
3. As a low barrier center, must be open to all and allow for guests to enter with their pets,
possessions and partners.
4. Guests allowed to be absent for a maximum of 72 hours without contact and still retain their
spot. Provider to determine number of absent episodes allowed.
5. BH must be a coordinated entry access point.
6. BH to include meals, basic service and case management. Provider to determine depth of each
item listed above
7. Referrals for BH services restricted to Triage Center and FMCoC Coordinated Entry System.
8. All guest information must be entered into HMIS and meet accuracy and timeliness standards.
9. BH must include a minimum of 1 staff to 30 guests.
A Good Neighbor policy is encouraged whereby the Provider is responsible for securing and maintaining
the perimeter of the BH, keeping clear of any nuisances and code violations. If a proposal is submitted
for a restricted population (i.e. veterans, victims of domestic violence, gender based, etc.), a maximum
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of 10 beds can be requested for that population. There is a preference for at least one rural BH with a
minimum of 5 beds.
Required Outcomes (Provider to determine percentages):
1. Percentage of clients with a safe exit from the facility, i.e. drug treatment, psychiatric treatment,
with family/friends, etc.
2. Percentage of clients engaged in services.
Priority will be given to proposals that prioritize funding for direct client services. Costs for minor facility
improvement is allowed but must be reasonable, necessary and minimal. Facility improvements are
only allowed in jurisdictions that declared a Shelter Crisis Resolution (see cities/counties mentioned
above). Proposals must demonstrate relationships with FMCoC, other homeless service providers and
appropriate entities. Provider must be ready to begin providing BH services within 45 days of contract
award.
RAPID RE-HOUSING
Rapid re-housing is designed to assist households to quickly exit homelessness and return to permanent
housing. It is offered without preconditions (i.e. employment, income, sobriety, etc.) and the resources
and services provided are tailored to the unique needs of the household. Three core components of
rapid re-housing include: 1) housing identification, 2) rent and move-in assistance, and 3) case
management. Rapid re-housing may be offered through tenant-based rental assistance or project-based
rental assistance. If project-based program is proposed, site control must be obtained within 30 days of
contract execution. Provider must adhere to Housing First.
Proposal Requirements:
1. Description of housing first policy.
2. Description of population to be served.
3. Description of case management services to be provided.
Required Outcomes (Provider to determine percentages):
1. Percentage of clients who exit to permanent housing.
2. Percentage of clients who remain in permanent housing 6 months after program exit.
DIVERSION SERVICES
Diversion is a strategy that prevents homelessness for people seeking shelter by helping them identify
immediate alternate housing arrangements and, if necessary, connect them with services and financial
assistance to help them return to permanent housing. Services occur at the front door, prior to entering
shelter. Services may include:
• Provision of financial, utility, and/or rental assistance;
• Short-term case management;
• Conflict mediation;
• Connection to mainstream services and/or benefits; and
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• Housing search.
Proposal Requirements:
1. Must be co-located at a Triage Center and/or have a mobile option which may include video
conferencing, etc.
2. Must be responsive to Triage Center’s requests for diversion services for their guests. TC staff
will conduct initial diversion pre-screening to determine whether to move forward a referral to
actual diversion services. TCs may be located in rural areas of Fresno County as well as Madera
County.
3. Provide diversion training to other Coordinated Entry System programs in order for those
programs to pre-screen for diversion.
4. Provide complete diversion services including the provision of financial assistance where
necessary.
Required Outcomes:
1. Number of households assessed for diversion that are served by the diversion provider.
2. Number of households served by diversion that avoided homelessness.
All clients who present for homeless services should be pre-screened for diversion services. If diversion
services are believed to be necessary, the diversion provider will be contacted. A maximum of 2
proposals will be funded.
EXPANDED COORDINATED ENTRY
Additional Housing Navigators are sought under Expanded Coordinated Entry to assist clients in finding
and securing housing. Proposals should create or expand an existing program and are required to
collaborate with existing providers. Priority will be given to services within rural areas including Madera
County.
OUTREACH
Expanded outreach services are sought to reach out to all populations with a prioritization in Madera
County and rural areas of Fresno County. It is expected that 1 proposal will be funded but will be
determined by proposals received. Agency collaboration is encouraged. A plan for language access of
area threshold languages must be included. Threshold languages for Fresno County are Spanish and
Hmong. Spanish is the only threshold language for Madera County. Funding is allowed for leasing of
vehicles and/or transportation.
LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT (LE) AND LANDLORD RISK MITIGATION FUND (will be funded as one project)
Landlord Engagement - Focus on expanding housing inventory by working with landlords, building
relationships with the landlords and interfacing with homeless service providers who have clients.
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Funded positions to conduct landlord engagement should have a background in the rental market and
be familiar with the rental process. The LE positions do not interface with clients but focuses on
inventory and eviction prevention.
Landlord Risk Mitigation Fund – fund encourages property managers and landlords to rent to people
experiencing homelessness by providing an added protection for landlords willing to rent to someone
with limited income, a poor rental history, or a criminal history. The funds can cover excessive damages
to the rental unit, lost rent, or legal fees beyond the security deposit. Reimbursement limits are set in
advance and landlords typically submit a claim for reimbursement.
YOUTH SET ASIDE SERVICES – HEAP funding requires a minimum of 5% be set aside for youth specific
services. Youth are defined as between the ages of 18 to 24 years.
YOUTH BRIDGE HOUSING (YBH)
Bridge Housing provides safe, temporary housing used in the short-term when a household has been
offered and accepted a permanent housing intervention or plan and are awaiting placement. Resident
goals are short-term with the focus on moving to permanent housing with services highly integrated
with the permanent housing provider.
Requirements:
1. The Provider must have control of the building for use as Bridge Housing at the time of proposal
submission. No new construction is allowed.
2. Staffed 24 hours, 7 days a week.
3. As a low barrier center, must be open to all and allow for guests to enter with their pets,
possessions and partners.
4. Guests allowed to be absent for a maximum of 72 hours without contact and still retain their
spot. Provider to determine number of absent episodes allowed.
5. YBH must be a coordinated entry access point.
6. YBH to include meals, basic service and case management. Provider to determine depth of each
item listed above
7. All guest information must be entered into HMIS and meet accuracy and timeliness standards.
A Good Neighbor policy is encouraged whereby the Provider is responsible for securing and maintaining
the perimeter of the YBH, keeping clear of any nuisances and code violations.
Required Outcomes (Provider to determine percentages):
3. Percentage of clients with a safe exit from the facility, i.e. drug treatment, psychiatric treatment,
with family/friends, etc.
4. Percentage of clients engaged in services.
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Priority will be given to proposals that prioritize funding for direct client services. Costs for minor facility
improvement is allowed but must be reasonable, necessary and minimal. Facility improvements are
only allowed in jurisdictions that declared a Shelter Crisis Resolution (see cities/counties mentioned
above). Proposals must demonstrate relationships with FMCoC, other homeless service providers and
appropriate entities. Provider must be ready to begin providing TBH services within 45 days of contract
award.
YOUTH EXPANDED COORDINATED ENTRY/NAVIGATION SERVICES
Additional Housing Navigators for youth with caseloads up to 40 individuals per Navigator are sought
under Expanded Coordinated Entry to assist youth in finding and securing housing. Proposals should
create or expand an existing program and are required to collaborate with existing providers. Priority
will be given to services within rural areas including Madera County.
HEALTH AND SAFETY EDUCATION
Provide educational services to youth residing in Bridge Shelter. Allowed topic areas include:
• Human Trafficking Prevention Education
• Substance Abuse Education
• Suicide Prevention Education
• Mental Health Services Education