Homelessness Prevention Grant Program

Homeless Services Network of Central Florida (HSN) Homelessness Prevention Grant Program Request for Information (RFI) June 20, 2016

As the designated lead agency for the Continuum of Care for Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties, HSN is issuing this request for information (RFI) for the Homelessness Prevention Grant Program. Any eligible organization that may be interested in contracting as a sub-recipient of funding that HSN expects to receive to operate the program is invited to respond. The program will provide short-term financial assistance and case management services to eligible Central Florida families with children in an effort to help them avoid falling into homelessness and promote their ongoing housing stability.

Due to time constraints, HSN must receive all responses to this RFI by 5:00 p.m., Monday, June 27. Responses should be submitted electronically to [email protected]. All responses will be reviewed using objective evaluation criteria by a team of CoC members not affiliated with any of the respondents. Funding recommendations will be based on the review process along with any additional information requested through that process.

Please direct all questions or requests for information about this RFI to Julie Gillespie at (407) 683-2280, or send an e-mail to [email protected]. **************************************************************************************** Selected Questions & Answers about the Homelessness Prevention Grant Program and RFI

What is the Homelessness Prevention Grant Program? The program was created and will be administered by the State Office on Homelessness within Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). For the first time, state TANF funding for homelessness prevention will be made available to the Continuum of Care for coordination with regional efforts. HSN is currently in the process of applying for a share of those funds and must identify who will operate the program in its application.

How much funding will be available through the program? The maximum amount of funding that HSN expects to receive for 2016-17 is $70,000. Of that amount, 3% may be used for eligible administrative activities. HSN expects to receive this funding in monthly installments. (Because the amount of funding is so limited, the program will be most effective if funds can be combined with other available homelessness prevention resources.)

How many sub-recipients will be selected to provide services through the program? Given the limited amount of funds available, HSN expects to contract with a single sub-recipient.

What is the expected duration of this program? HSN expects to contract with a sub-recipient for a one-year term. However, the contract may be renewed for up to two additional years, subject to the availability of funding.

Who is eligible to be served through the program? In general, a family with children living in Orange, Osceola or Seminole County that is at-risk for homelessness, such that their housing situation may be stabilized through the provision of case management and short-term, housing-related financial assistance is eligible for assistance through the program. The use of additional priority-

1 setting criteria may be incorporated at a later date.

For what purposes can program funds be used? The sub-recipient may use program funds to provide any of the following forms of assistance to eligible families in order to prevent their homelessness and promote their housing stability:  Payments of past due rent or mortgage payments  Payments for past due utility bills (electric, gas, sewer. or water service only)  Sub-recipient staff costs related to the sustained provision of case management services to families assisted through the program. However, funding for all such activities must be limited to a single 4-month period. DCF may specify additional requirements.

What are the responsibilities of the sub-recipient under this program? The sub-recipient’s primary responsibilities include:  Processing of completed applications for assistance from families and eligibility determination  Development of a written case plan  Regular provision of case management for each family receiving assistance, including maintenance of a case file for each family receiving assistance  Completion of periodic reports to HSN summarizing program and financial activity, including outcomes to include the number and percentage of families assisted who remain in housing after 12 months  Compliance with other state and federal requirements specified by DCF in its contract with HSN

What information should a prospective sub-recipient provide in response to this RFI? Respondents should answer the following questions in two pages or less: 1. Briefly describe your organization’s experience with homelessness prevention activities during the past two years, including your track record of helping families who are at-risk for homelessness retain their housing.

2. Describe the method used to capture housing stability data available for the year ending December 31, 2015. Provide data on the clients served in calendar year 2014 including success in staying in their housing for twelve (12) months after the last assistance was provided. Include:

# of Families served by # of Families who remained % of Families who remained prevention in calendar year 2014 housed after 12 months housing after 12 months

(Please note: If Agency is selected for the regional application the Agency must submit a data report, clearly citing the source of data before the regional application is submitted)

3. Does your organization currently have an established program of case management that is specifically applicable to homelessness prevention activity? If so, please briefly describe your program.

4. Briefly describe your organization’s case management-related capacity, including the number of positions and FTEs dedicated to case management activity that includes homelessness prevention.

2 5. Briefly describe your capacity to track a family’s housing status and other outcomes over time using a data management system or other method (even if that family does not become homeless).

6. Briefly describe the source(s) and amount(s) of any other funding that your organization expects to be able to combine with program funding to prevent homelessness during the next 12 months? Source Amount

7. Can your organization accept and assist families who are at-risk for homelessness from each of the following counties? Orange County Yes   No Please explain any limitations:______Osceola County Yes   No Please explain any limitations:______Seminole County Yes   No Please explain any limitations:______

8. Within each of the counties in which you indicated the ability to serve, can your organization accept and assist any eligible family seeking assistance (assuming resources are available)?

Yes   No Please explain any restrictions:______

9. What outstanding questions about or issues with this program would you like to discuss with HSN?

Name of Organization: ______

Contact Person for purposes of this RFI: ______

Contact Phone Number and E-mail Address: ______