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1 I FAX I TTY REVISED SPECIAL AGENDA AND NOTICE OF A PUBLIC MEETING OF THE LOS ANGELES HOMELESS SERVICES AUTHORITY COMMISSION Friday, December 16, :00 a.m. or immediately following the adjournment of the Commission meeting. Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority 811 Wilshire Boulevard, 5 th Floor Los Angeles, CA AGENDA NO. ITEM AND DESCRIPTION PRESENTER PAGE Call to Order/Roll Call/Establishment of Quorum Agenda Items - The public will have an opportunity to speak to any agenda item when the item is called and before action is taken. A Request to Speak Form must be submitted to the Secretary prior to the completion of the agenda item. The Chair will determine the order of speaking and unless the Chair grants more or less time, the speaker s limit is two (2) minutes on each agenda item, subject to the total 20- minute period. 1.0 Review and approve the quality evaluation results and funding recommendations for the 2016 Crisis and Bridge Housing for Individuals and Youth Request for Proposals (RFP). 2.0 Review and approve release of 2016 Independent Living Program for Transition Age Youth (TAY) Request for Proposals (RFP). Chris Coaloa 2 Nancy Ma Review and approve the updated LAHSA budget. Stuart Jackson Public Participation Each Public Participant speaker is limited to three (3) minutes and may address any topic within the Commission s jurisdiction. A Request to Speak Form must be filled out and submitted to the Secretary prior to the beginning of Public Participation. Subject to the total 20-minute period, each Public Participation speaker is limited to three (3) minutes. Adjournment Packets of materials on agenda items are available to the public during normal business hours at 811 Wilshire Boulevard, 6 th Floor, Los Angeles, CA For further information, you may call Upon request, sign language interpreters, materials in alternative formats and other accommodations are available to the public for LAHSA meetings. All requests for reasonable accommodations must be made at least three working days (72 Hours) in advance of the scheduled meeting date. For additional information, contact LAHSA at (213) or TTY (213)

2 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE 811 Wilshire Blvd., 6 th Floor Los Angeles, CA Ph: Fax: TTY: MEMO Item 1.0 To: LAHSA Commission From: Christopher Coaloa Ojeda, Analyst, Funding Date: December 16, 2016 CC: Re: Peter Lynn, Executive Director Chris Callandrillo, Director of Programs Daniel Fisher, Associate Director of Operations Anna Bialik, Manager, Funding Quality Evaluation Results and Recommendations for the 2016 Crisis and Bridge Housing for Individuals and Youth Request for Proposals (RFP) Commission Action Requested: Review and approve the quality evaluation results and recommendations for the 2016 Crisis and Bridge Housing for Individuals and Youth Request for Proposals (RFP). Background: The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) released the 2016 Crisis and Bridge Housing for Individuals and Youth RFP on Thursday, October 20, The approximate funding available through this RFP is $1,697,250. Proposals for women s shelters in SPA 4 were a stated priority. The submission deadline for this RFP to LAHSA was Wednesday, November 16, 2016 at 2:00pm. Crisis & Bridge Housing for Individuals and Youth RFP - Projected Funding Funding Type Funding Amount (FY ) City of Los Angeles General Funds (GF) $1,697,250 Quality Evaluation Criteria: The 2016 Crisis and Bridge Housing for Individuals and Youth RFP established quality review criteria in five (5) areas to determine that proposers have the qualifications to submit a proposal under the RFP and have the potential to successfully operate the program being proposed for funding. Each proposal s content, responsiveness, conciseness, clarity, relevance, and strict adherence to the instructions in this RFP are considered when scoring each category. Final scoring is based on the proposal as submitted. Proposals must receive an aggregate score of 75 points or more to be recommended for funding. Final Funding Recommendations will be made based on the amount of funding available, funding priorities, geography, and the amount of proposals that score above the 75-point funding line A Joint Authority Created by the City and County of Los Angeles

3 The criteria outlined in the RFP include: 2016 Crisis and Bridge Housing RFP Quality Review Scoring Scoring Area Possible Points Program Design 35 Past Performance 25 Program Readiness 15 Program Budget/Cost Efficiency 10 CES Integration 15 TOTAL 100 Quality Evaluation Results: As detailed in the attached tables, the evaluation panel reviewed a total of four (4) proposals. Based upon an evaluation of the criteria detailed above, it was determined that all four (4) proposals scored 75 points or above and were therefore eligible to receive award recommendations through this RFP. Funding Priority 1 Women s Shelters in SPA 4 Organization Name Project Name SPA Score Funding Recomme ndation Beds The Midnight Mission The Midnight Mission Crisis & Bridge Housing Spa $657, Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc. Good Shepherd Center's Hawkes Residence 4 82 $328, Funding Priority 2 Organization Name Project Name SPA Score Funding Recomme ndation Beds National Health Foundation Testimonial Community Love Center The Midnight Mission Pathway Recuperative Care and Bridge Housing TCLC Crisis and Bridge Housing Program The Midnight Mission Crisis & Bridge Housing Spa $109, $328, $273, Staff Recommendations: Staff recommends the approval of the Quality Review Results as detailed in this memorandum A Joint Authority Created by the City and County of Los Angeles

4 Item Crisis and Bridge Housing for Individuals and Youth Request for Proposals (RFP) Quality Review Results & Funding Recommendations December 16,

5 BACKGROUND Purpose: Procure leftover Crisis & Bridge Housing Funds from CES RFP Program Term: February 1, 2017 to June 30, 2017 Eligible Population: Homeless individuals, TAY, unaccompanied minors, and victims of domestic violence. Priority : Proposals for women s shelters in SPA 4. 2

6 FUNDING AVAILABLE FUNDER TOTAL City of Los Angeles, General Funds $1,697,250 Bed Rate: $30/Bed/Night Beds: 155 3

7 QUALITY REVIEW SCORING AREA POINTS Program Design 35 Past Performance 25 Program Readiness 15 Program Budget/Cost Efficiency 10 CES Integration 15 TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE 100 4

8 Quality Review Results 2016 Crisis and Bridge Housing for Individuals and Youth Request for Proposals Quality Review Results Organization Project Name SPA Score Funding Recommendation Funding Priority 1 Women s Shelters in Downtown The Midnight Mission - The Midnight Mission Crisis & Bridge Housing Spa $657, Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc. - Good Shepherd Center's Hawkes Residence 4 82 $328, Funding Priority 2 National Health Foundation - Pathway Recuperative Care and Bridge Housing 4 89 $109, Testimonial Community Love Center - TCLC Crisis and Bridge Housing Program 6 89 $328, The Midnight Mission - The Midnight Mission Crisis & Bridge Housing Spa $273, Beds TOTAL $1,697,

9 APPEALS Appeals Deadline: December 15,

10 STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff Recommendation: Approve the Quality Review results and Funding Recommendations for the 2016 Crisis and Bridge Housing for Individuals and Youth RFP. 7

11 Questions? 8

12 Item 2.0 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) 2016 INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM (ILP) For Transition Age-Youth Issued: December 8, 2016 Mandatory Proposers Conference: December 15, 2016, 10:00am-12:00pm Written Questions Due: December 16, 2016, 2:00pm Submission Deadline: February 17, 2017, 2:00pm -12-

13 Table of Contents I. DESCRIPTION OF WORK 3 A. Background and Objective 3 B. Funding Available 3 C. Eligible Applicants 4 D. Eligible Projects 5 E. Eligible Facilities 5 F. Contract Term 5 G. Geographic Area Served 5 H. Eligible Populations 6 I. Definitions 6 J. Program Component: Independent Living Program (ILP) 9 K. Performance Outcomes 14 L. Budget, Match and Leverage 14 M. Timeliness Standards 15 N. Facility 15 O. Due Diligence and Regulatory Compliance 15 P. Joint Offers 15 Q. Proposed Subcontractors 15 R. Proposed Contract 16 S. No Commitment to Award 16 II. PROPOSAL CRITERIA AND EVALUATION PROCESS 16 A. Overview 16 III. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS 22 A. New Project Proposal Submittal 22 B. Due Date 23 C. Mandatory Proposers Conference 23 D. Questions from Proposers 23 E. RFP Addenda/Clarifications 24 F. Appeals 24 V. CORE DOCUMENTS 26 VI. PROPOSAL CONDITIONS AND RESERVATIONS 28 VII. CONTRACT CONDITIONS 31 EXHIBIT A Independent Living Program (ILP) RFP 2 P a g e

14 I. DESCRIPTION OF WORK A. Background and Objective The John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 makes funds available for current and former foster youth up to age 21 to enhance their planning and preparation for independent living. Each year, the State of California receives an allocation of these funds and, in turn, allocates these funds to individual counties. In Los Angeles County, the funds are administered by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Up to thirty percent (30%) of each year s allocation may be used for housing assistance to former foster youth at least 18 and not yet 21 years of age. The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to fund supportive services, operating costs, and administrative costs incurred by programs providing transitional housing to former foster youth. The County seeks the assistance and participation of community partners in serving the housing needs of former foster youth moving toward independence and self-sufficiency throughout all eight (8) Service Planning Areas (SPAs). This RFP and the housing funds distributed under it will be administered by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) under contract with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in partnership with the Los Angeles County Probation Department (Probation). DCFS and Probation both provide foster care services to youth and establish programs and policies to meet the needs of those youth. For this RFP, DCFS and Probation are the lead agencies for developing the policies and priorities identified herein. LAHSA brings expertise in conducting the RFP process, managing contracts, and monitoring the performance of community-based organizations providing housing and housing assistance. LAHSA is a joint powers authority created by the County and the City of Los Angeles to address the needs of homeless persons. LAHSA administers federal and local funds for housing and other services for homeless persons. LAHSA currently administers funds and contracts for housing programs serving former foster youth. B. Funding Available Approximately $2,629,267 is available in the form of grants for transitional housing programs for former foster youth. Approximately $861,180 from the total funding available amount ($2,629,267) will be reserved for 50 Transition Age Youth (TAY) who have Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) Mental Disorders diagnoses on Axis I or II. For this RFP, the total number of beds is beds of the total 225 beds are reserved for TAY with a DSM diagnoses on Axis I or II. The distribution of beds will be based on geographic need Independent Living Program (ILP) RFP 3 P a g e

15 Funds may be used for supportive services, operations, Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and administrative costs, to the extent that these costs are directly related to the housing and services being provided to former foster youth. LAHSA recommends leveraging from other sources at 100% to enrich programming. Additional services to be provided through leveraged resources include but are not limited to: physical health care, mental health care, substance disorder/recovery skills, education/life skills, and legal services. FUNDS UNDER THIS RFP ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR CAPITAL COSTS. Ineligible costs will not be funded. If a proposed project does not include any eligible costs, the proposal will be deemed ineligible and rejected from the competition. Please refer to Section J. Program Component: Independent Living Program for the description of supportive services that organizations are required to provide for each program awarded funds under this RFP. C. Eligible Applicants This RFP is open to states, units of local government, public housing agencies, private non-profit organizations, and community mental health associations that are public non-profit organizations. At a minimum, eligible Proposers must meet the following criteria: 1. All non-governmental Proposers must have been incorporated and have been operational as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing services to the target population before February 1, However, agencies that have been providing services to the target population under the auspices of another incorporated 501(c)(3) organization as of February 1, 2014 and have since obtained their own 501(c)(3) status may be eligible for funding under this RFP. 2. Have not been debarred or suspended by the Federal Government, State of California, County of Los Angeles, or a local government. 3. Have no current or past contract non-compliance, non-performance, suspension or termination, or other adverse audit findings with LAHSA or any other public funding source in the past five years. 4. The Proposer must have at least twenty-four (24) months of experience providing similar housing and/or services to the target population for which funding is being requested. Especially well planned proposals may be considered even if the required twenty-four (24) months of experience has not been met at the time of proposal submission. Both the Proposer and all organizations involved in the proposed project are subject to this review. 5. Proposers must submit a separate proposal for each Service Planning Area ("SPA") in which they intend to serve Independent Living Program (ILP) RFP 4 P a g e

16 D. Eligible Projects Transitional housing programs are eligible for funding under this RFP if they propose to provide at least six (6) new or expiring beds for the eligible population, as defined in Section I. Definitions. Note that funding under this RFP is not intended to replace funding sources for existing beds. E. Eligible Facilities The facilities used to house former foster youth may provide private or shared bedrooms with no more than two (2) persons per bedroom, and may be of the following types: Single Room Occupancy (SRO)-type units; multi-family units (leased or owned, scatteredsite, or in one building); shared living space containing more than two beds provided that, at a minimum, there are partitions around each bed with adequate private and secure storage space for individual belongings. Proposers are encouraged to provide housing in independent living spaces, such as apartments. If housing is provided in a single site project-based, 24-hour, awake, on-site supervision is required. The facilities must also provide, at a minimum, access to food and cooking facilities, laundry facilities, an accessible and working telephone, basic wireless internet, and basic furnishings in the housing unit. All shared bedrooms and bathrooms must be for single-sex use only. Transgender youth must be housed with and share the same facilities as the gender with which they identify. If the target population for the project proposed in this RFP is housed in the same facility as another population, the target population must be provided dedicated sleeping and bathroom areas used solely by individuals under 21 years of age. F. Contract Term The initial contract term for contracts awarded through this RFP is July 1, 2017 to June 30, LAHSA reserves the option to renew contracts awarded through this RFP for up to two (2) subsequent years, contingent upon satisfactory contractor performance, availability of funds, and demonstrated geographic need. G. Geographic Area Served Each proposal must clearly identify the Service Planning Area (SPA) within LA County in which the proposed project will be located and the region it will serve. Final funding allocation will be made according to the quality review results and the need for services in each SPA. Providers located in the Continuums of Care of Glendale, Pasadena, and Long Beach are eligible to apply for funds through this RFP. However, providers from these Continuums must demonstrate an ability to serve all eligible populations in the entire SPA. Proposals which focus services primarily in these Continuums will not be considered for funding under this RFP. Proposals with sites located in SPAs encompassing another Continuum 2016 Independent Living Program (ILP) RFP 5 P a g e

17 of Care must provide services in compliance and collaboration with the LA Coordinated Entry System (CES). LAHSA reserves the right to adjust allocation of funding to promote broad geographic distribution of the program component across SPAs. If an insufficient number of qualified proposals are received or if the proposals received are deemed non-responsive or not qualified as determined by LAHSA, LAHSA reserves the right to re-issue the RFP, execute a sole-source contract with a provider, or otherwise ensure that services are provided by other means in a manner consistent with component requirements. H. Eligible Populations This RFP seeks to fund housing and services to former foster youth, defined as follows: A person at least 18 years old and not yet 21 years old whose foster care services have terminated. Foster care services are deemed terminated as of the date that court jurisdiction over the youth is terminated, and a court order (also known as a minute order ) is issued evidencing such. Foster care services include: A former foster youth who was under Los Angeles County supervision through the Department of Children and Family Services or the Department of Probation and was in out-of-home care after turning 16 years old; or o A Kin-GAP youth who at any age resided with a related legal guardian. o Eligible former foster youth include the above qualifying former foster youth who: Were adopted after their 16th birthday; and/or Have run away from placement. I. Definitions Case Management Case management is defined by the Case Management Society of America as a collaborative process of assessment, planning, facilitation, care coordination, evaluation, and advocacy for options and services to meet individual needs. Case Management in the context of CES should be voluntary and client centered, with the goal of identifying strengths and client directed goals, while promoting health, recognition, and well-being (USICH, 2016). Case Managers in CES should ultimately focus on linking the client to a permanent housing resource and providing the necessary services needed to promote housing stability. Coordinated Entry System (CES) CES is a regionally based system that connects new and existing programs into a nowrong-door network by assessing the needs of individuals/families/youth experiencing homelessness and linking them with the most appropriate housing and services to end their homelessness. The goal of the CES is to streamline processes through which communities assess, house, and support housing retention for individuals/families who 2016 Independent Living Program (ILP) RFP 6 P a g e

18 are homeless; to ensure all of our homeless neighbors are known and supported; to target and maximize limited housing resources; and comply with the federal mandate to adopt a standardized intake and coordinated assessment process for housing. The essential components of CES are: 1) a system that is low-barrier and easy to access; 2) a system that identifies and assesses people s needs; and 3) a system that prioritizes and matches housing resources based on those needs. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) is a comprehensive classification of officially recognized psychiatric disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association, for use by mental health professionals to ensure uniformity of diagnosis. Evidence of Site Control Documentation of an appropriate certificate of occupancy and/or a conditional use permit allowing the legal use of the property for the service/housing being proposed, and at least one of the following types of documentation securing the location for the use of the proposed system component: a) Proof of Ownership; b) Executed Option to Purchase; c) Executed Lease Agreement; d) Executed Option to Lease; e) Letter of Intent signed by both parties. Expiring beds Expiring beds are defined as dedicated beds for the target population for which funding will cease as of June 30, 2017 and which would result in the beds being no longer available to the target population as of July 1, Harm Reduction Harm reduction is an aspect of a program s or system s design established by a set of policies and the resulting procedures and practices whose objective is to reduce the negative consequences of participants continued use of drugs and/or alcohol or failure to be medication compliant. In housing settings, harm reduction is intended to prevent a participant s loss of housing and/or termination from the program based solely on his or her inability to stop using drugs or alcohol or failure to take prescribed medications. Programs incorporating a harm reduction model must utilize all interventions possible, short of termination from the program to enable the participant to reduce or minimize their risky behaviors while at the same time assisting them to move into and become stabilized in permanent housing. Harm reduction is not intended to prevent the termination of a participant whose actions or behavior constitute a threat to the safety of other participants and staff. Organizations must develop a set of policies and procedures to be implemented in the event of such behavior on the part of a participant Independent Living Program (ILP) RFP 7 P a g e

19 Housing First Housing First is an approach that offers permanent housing as quickly as possible for people experiencing homelessness, particularly for people with long histories of homelessness and co-occurring health challenges, while providing the supportive services people need to keep their housing and avoid returning to homelessness without service participation requirements or preconditions (such as sobriety or a minimum income threshold). The provider ensures that the supportive services that program participants need or want in order to achieve permanent housing and to increase income are offered, but are not required as a condition of housing, including links to mainstream programs or partner agencies (i.e. mental health services, substance abuse treatment, medical services, child care, etc.). Income, sobriety and/or participation in treatment or other services are voluntary and are not required as a condition for housing. Homeless An individual who belongs to one of the following categories: 1. An individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, meaning: a. An individual or family with a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not meant for human habitation; b. Is living in a publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements (including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotels and motels paid for by charitable organizations or by federal, state, or local government programs for lowincome individuals); or c. Is exiting an institution where (s)he has resided for 90 days or less and who resided in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately before entering that institution. 2. Not applicable; Intentionally Omitted; 3. Not applicable; Intentionally Omitted; 4. Any individual or family who: a. Is fleeing, or is attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions that relate to violence against the individual or a family member, including a child, that has either taken place within the individual's or family s primary nighttime residence or has made the individual or family afraid to return to their primary nighttime residence; b. Has no other residence; and c. Lacks the resources or support networks, e.g., family, friends, faith-based or other social networks, to obtain other permanent housing. Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program (Kin-GAP Program) The Kin-GAP Program offers a subsidy to children who leave the juvenile court system to live with a relative legal guardian. The subsidy is 100% of the basic foster care rate, based on the level of care Independent Living Program (ILP) RFP 8 P a g e

20 New beds New beds are defined as dedicated beds for the eligible population that did not exist before July 1, New beds include beds that existed before July 1, 2017 but were not dedicated to the target population before July 1, Permanent Housing (PH) Community-based housing without a designated length of stay, which includes both Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) and Rapid Rehousing (RRH). Examples of permanent housing include, but are not limited to, a house or apartment with a monthto-month or annual lease term or home ownership. Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Permanent supportive housing is permanent housing with indefinite leasing or rental assistance paired with supportive services to assist homeless persons with a disability or families with an adult or child member with a disability to achieve housing stability. Transition Age Youth (TAY) An individual between the ages of 16 and 24 years. Transitional Housing (TH) Transitional housing (TH) is designed to provide homeless individuals and families with the interim stability and support to successfully move to and maintain permanent housing. Transitional housing may be used to cover the costs of up to 24 months of housing with accompanying supportive services. Program participants must have a lease (or sublease) or occupancy agreement in place when residing in transitional housing. J. Program Component: Independent Living Program (ILP) Objective: To provide transitional housing and services to homeless former foster youth by developing their independent living skills and assisting them in moving into permanent housing. The program shall provide supportive services, targeting special needs of young adults, such as developmental, behavioral, mental health, substance abuse, pregnancy and parenting issues. The expected outcome of the ILP program is Permanent Housing placement at program exit. Projects must fill vacancies using the CES for youth priority lists to house people from the community in which they are operating. Programs will be integrated with local outreach efforts to ensure effective engagement of the target population. Eligible Population: Refer to Section H. Eligible Populations Independent Living Program (ILP) RFP 9 P a g e

21 Core Elements: Programs must be designed to meet the general and special needs of former foster youth, including assessment, case management, and supportive services directed at developing and improving independent living skills and economic self-sufficiency. Programs must also assist resident youth in identifying and accessing appropriate permanent housing. Staff must be knowledgeable of and experienced in working with former foster youth. If serving resident youth with special needs, staff must be experienced and qualified to provide services specific to the population being served. Proposers should consider the type of housing most appropriate to former foster youth who are transitioning to self-sufficiency. Programs must be designed to demonstrate how the facility design and supervision is clearly appropriate to the level of independence needed by the target population. Programs should be designed to include housing with long-term sustainability and viability (i.e., dedicated facilities and beds as opposed to master leasing). All programs are encouraged to incorporate best practices and the harm reduction model for substance users in their program design. At a minimum, agencies selected for funding are responsible for providing ALL of the following: 1. Accepting referrals from the CES for Youth and the County, other ILP/LAHSA providers, Community Stakeholders, and self-referrals from TAY. 2. Providing intake services to determine whether a resident youth is eligible to receive housing and services in a transitional housing program. This includes the verification of eligible former foster youth status. 3. Providing a comprehensive assessment of each resident youth s medical, physical, mental, psychosocial, and emotional health; substance abuse, domestic violence, education, and employment history; housing readiness; and legal and financial strengths and needs. On the basis of this assessment, the case manager, together with the resident youth, will develop an Individualized Service Plan (ISP) that identifies priorities, desired outcomes, and the strategies and resources to be used in attaining the outcomes of permanent housing placement. 4. Providing case management services. The goal of case management is to assist resident youth in addressing their issues by providing quality services in the most efficient and effective manner. Case management services are youth-centered activities that maximize the resident youth s physical, social, and economic wellbeing and assist him/her in living independently in permanent housing placement. Case management staff should possess relevant education, skills, and/or experience to assist resident youths in assessing their needs and achieving their goals. Former foster youth and their case managers will address each issue identified in their ISP, ensuring that at the time of their graduation from transitional housing, former foster youth are stable enough to move to the next level where their long-term goals may be addressed. Case managers 2016 Independent Living Program (ILP) RFP 10 P a g e

22 together with the former foster youth must develop a next step plan for those who graduate from the program and move into permanent housing placement. 5. Providing on-going structured independent living skills training, including but not limited to, budget planning, money management (including basic tax information), meal planning and preparation, maintenance of one s own living unit, and accessing resources. Independent living skills training must be provided in a group setting and on a one-on-one setting with each individual. Agencies must demonstrate and document the increased living skills achieved by each participant. Life skills training should be housing-focused for the entire program. 6. Providing job readiness and/or increased skills to improve the former foster youth s financial situation in order to increase his/her ability to live independently in permanent housing placement. 7. Establishment and management of an FDIC savings account within three months of entry within the program. The resident youth shall be required to save a portion of his/her income for future moving expenses, which will be available to him/her when exiting the program to permanent housing placement. 8. Assisting former foster youth with housing placement, all the tasks involved in locating, obtaining, moving into, and maintaining decent, safe, and sanitary housing. Services include developing, preparing and training youths in searching for, securing, and maintaining their own housing and developing relationships with landlords and property managers. Former foster youths must also be trained in dealing with landlord-tenant issues. 9. Providing 24-hour staffing, either on-site or on-call. On-site staffing where feasible is strongly encouraged. 10. Ensuring that all resident youths are provided with breakfast and dinner meals. The only exception to this requirement is if the transitional housing is configured in separate apartments with private kitchens or individual rooms with large shared kitchens (SRO style). In these types of programs, youths may be responsible for planning and preparing their own meals and purchasing a portion of their own food only if this is a managed life skills enhancement component of the program. In such situations, the program must also provide specific life skills training in nutrition, food budgeting, meal planning and preparation. Additionally, Provider staff must ensure that each resident youth has access to sufficient food resources. All meals, whether provided by the program or prepared by the former foster youth, must be complete and nutritionally adequate. Furthermore, agencies must not require foster youth served under this program to surrender food stamps in exchange for meals or other services. 11. Establishing a policy for supportive services fees, if applicable. In the event agencies charge former foster youth supportive services fees, agencies must ensure that the activities for which fees are being assessed are actual supportive services and not costs associated with the operation of the facility (e.g., landscaping, security, or janitorial services). Supportive services fees are separate from rent fees and must be charged separately. In addition, the cost of 2016 Independent Living Program (ILP) RFP 11 P a g e

23 providing the supportive service must be incurred by the Proposer and not be reimbursed from other funding sources. If supportive services fees are charged to participants, the following written documentation must be kept in program files: (1) the fee charged each participant and how the fee was calculated; (2) the participant s written acknowledgement of the cost; (3) the actual cost of providing the supportive service and the method used in determining the cost; (4) a determination that the fee charged each participant is reasonable based on the level of service received; and documentation showing how the combination of rent and/or supportive service does not hinder the participant s recovery to self-sufficiency. 12. Establishing a policy for rent fees, if applicable. Agencies are not required to charge participants any rent. However, if rent fees are charged, agencies must clearly define standards of charging participants for rent and specify that the charge is for the rental of the housing unit in a Transitional Housing Rental Agreement. The combined total of rent and supportive services fees charged to each client cannot exceed the higher of 30% of the monthly adjusted income or 10% of the monthly gross income. If Proposer is unable to enforce the above policies due to financial limitations, LAHSA will review fees on a case-by-case basis. If rent fees are charged to participants, the following written documentation must be kept in the files: i) LAHSA s standard rent calculation form (provided with contract for funding); ii) the participant s written acknowledgement of the cost; iii) documentation showing how the combination of rent and/or supportive service fee does not hinder the participant s recovery to self-sufficiency. Agencies shall refund a minimum of 75% of the total rent and supportive service fees collected to each client upon exit from the program. 13. Maintaining policies and procedures for promptly and appropriately responding to mental health crises and issues, including procedures that ensure resident youths ability to remain in the program and receive appropriate referrals for treatment and services. Staff should have experience in understanding the conditions surrounding a psychiatric emergency or de-compensation, the knowledge of the necessary assistance to help and support the resident youth at the time of the crisis, and the ability to provide that assistance or contact the appropriate entity to provide that assistance. 14. Maintaining policies and procedures for drug and/or alcohol use, including procedures that ensure resident youths ability to remain in the program and receive appropriate referrals for treatment and services. 15. Maintaining policies and procedures for protecting the privacy and confidentiality of resident youth. 16. Maintaining policies and procedures for ensuring the safety and security of staff and resident youth, including policies addressing violence and the sale and use of substances. 17. Defining and maintaining policies regarding length of stay. 18. Maintaining grievance procedures Independent Living Program (ILP) RFP 12 P a g e

24 19. Providing housing facilities that include, at a minimum: (1) housing that is clean, safe, and comfortable, with adequate lighting, heating, toilet and bath facilities; (2) an individual bed and linens for each resident youth; (3) access to food and cooking facilities; (4) laundry facilities; (5) an accessible, working telephone; (6) and basic furnishings provided in the housing unit. All bedrooms and bathrooms must be for single-sex use only. 20. Providing housing facilities that are within a reasonable proximity to neighborhood amenities. Neighborhood amenities include educational facilities, parks, health care facilities, public transportation, community services, grocery stores, shopping centers, and facilities essential to resident youths case management, employment, and social services needs. 21. Ensuring that all housing facilities are in good repair, free of leaks, and provide adequate heat and ventilation. Housing facilities must meet all local building, health, and safety standards. 22. Ensuring that program participants sign a housing contract that clearly states the transitional housing program s rules, including but not limited to ILP guidelines, program violation warnings and termination procedures. 23. Submitting to DCFS, Probation, and LAHSA all required program reports in a timely manner. 24. Ensuring timely expenditure of grant funds. Funds not utilized in a timely manner are subject to recapture. Refer to Exhibit A: Independent Living Program Scope of Required Services for more program eligibility and program requirement details. Required Supportive Services/Operations Funded by this RFP Funded through Matching Funds or Provided through Leveraged Services Case Management X X X Residential Supervision X X X Crisis Intervention X X X Security X X X Meals X X X Restrooms & Showers X X X Rent X X X Physical Health Care X X Mental Health Care X X Substance Abuse/Recovery Services X X Education/Life Skills X X Legal Services x x 2016 Independent Living Program (ILP) RFP 13 P a g e

25 K. Performance Outcomes The program will provide transitional housing and services to former foster youth. The Providers will document the number of people who exit the program. The project performance outcomes and measurement standards are subject to change upon written notice by LAHSA, and are as indicated by the Funder. Programs funded under this RFP will be expected to achieve the following performance outcomes: a) Performance Outcome Targets for the ILP Program Housing and Housing Stability 65% of households exit to permanent housing 80% of households exit to a successful destination 90% of households that exit to permanent housing do not re-enter crisis housing within 24 months Income and Education 50% of households increase their income from all sources 60% of heads of households will obtain a high school diploma or GED certificate 40% of heads of households will enroll in and/or maintain active status in an accredited post-secondary education degree, license or certification program Administrative Responsibility 95% Bed utilization rate 95% HMIS data quality L. Budget, Match and Leverage Proposers are required to submit a competitive budget which will allow them to operate at an optimal level. A budget template has been provided with this RFP that provides for a line item budget by category. The budget template provided must be submitted with the proposal. Proposers must submit a complete budget for the total cost of the proposed project, including any other funding sources being leveraged. Match and Leverage Due to the limited resources available and the requirements of the funder, all applications will need to be able to demonstrate match and leveraging in order to meet the needs of the populations they intend to serve. LAHSA encourages leveraging of funding from other sources at 100% to enrich programming. As part of the Quality Review process all proposals will be evaluated with regard to the level of leveraged funds that are committed to the project. Due to the limited resources available, all applications will need to be able to demonstrate leveraging in order to meet the needs of the populations they intend to serve Independent Living Program (ILP) RFP 14 P a g e

26 M. Timeliness Standards The Proposer is expected to demonstrate the ability to begin project operation July 1, 2017 and to fully utilize grant funds within the proposed contract term. Proposals must demonstrate a plan for rapid implementation of the program. The Proposer is expected to initiate the approved projects promptly in accordance with the requirements of this RFP and the federal and local regulations governing the awarded funding. Grant terms, and associated grant operations, may not extend beyond the availability of funds. N. Facility Proposers must obtain site control for the facility in which services and housing will operate and submit evidence of site control to LAHSA with the proposal. Facilities must be appropriate to the type of services being provided and must be located within close proximity to community amenities including access to public transportation. Proposers must be able to demonstrate that they can provide enough space for the proposed staffing levels. In addition, each facility must have a private space for the staff to use for confidential interviews. O. Due Diligence and Regulatory Compliance Proposers are required to provide information regarding the financial condition and principal agents of the organization and project partners. Financial condition is evidenced by recent balance sheets, or income statements, current audited financial statements and internal financial statements, including Statements of Financial Position and Statements of Activities, while principal agent information is evidenced by resumes for all key principals/partners of the organization. In order to ensure regulatory compliance, the evaluators will perform due diligence on all proposals to verify the accuracy of the information provided. P. Joint Offers Where two or more Proposers desire to submit a single proposal in response to this RFP, they should do so on a prime-subcontractor basis rather than as a joint venture or informal team. LAHSA intends to contract with a single Proposer and not with multiple Proposers doing business as a joint venture. Q. Proposed Subcontractors All subcontractors proposed to carry out any portion of the performance of the program will be evaluated for organizational capacity, financial stability and their successful experience in providing the proposed housing and services. Proposers must submit a copy of their organization s policies/procedures for selecting and entering into contracts with subcontractors and monitoring subcontractor performance. The proposer must submit a specific plan for monitoring subcontractor(s) in the performance of Transitional Housing which includes programmatic and fiscal areas 2016 Independent Living Program (ILP) RFP 15 P a g e

27 of review, potential corrective actions that will be imposed if the subcontractor is noncompliant or not performing and planned monitoring dates. R. Proposed Contract Successful proposers shall be required to enter into a written agreement with LAHSA. The proposed contract may be modified to incorporate other pertinent terms and conditions set forth in this RFP, including those added by addendum, and to reflect the proposer s offer or the outcome of the contract negotiations, if any, conducted with the proposer. Proposers unable or unwilling to comply with LAHSA policies and procedures need not apply. Corrective actions may be imposed on an agency for noncompliance with regulations, contract requirements and other applicable professional standards. Should an agency fail for any reason to comply with the contractual obligations of their contract, LAHSA reserves the right to take remedial action at its discretion as set forth in LAHSA s Remedial Action Policy. LAHSA, at its discretion, may impose any of the following remedial actions for cause: Notice of Noncompliance, Withholding of Payment, Probation, Suspension, Termination and/or, Debarment. S. No Commitment to Award Issuance of this RFP and receipt of proposals is not a commitment to award a contract. LAHSA expressly reserve the right to postpone proposal opening for its own convenience, to accept or reject any or all proposals received in response to this RFP, to negotiate with more than one proposer concurrently, or to cancel all or part of this RFP. II.PROPOSAL CRITERIA AND EVALUATION PROCESS A. Overview The Proposal Evaluation Process will take place in two (2) phases: Phase 1: All proposals received by the submission deadline will be submitted for a Threshold Review by LAHSA staff. Proposals that meet all Threshold Requirements, as outlined in this RFP, will be recommended to move on to Quality Review and will be submitted for the approval of the Programs & Evaluations Committee and posted to the LAHSA website. Proposals that do not meet Threshold Requirements will not move to the Quality Review phase. Phase 2: Proposals recommended for Quality Review will be evaluated by a panel of experts, which will be referred to as the Evaluation Panel, and scored independently based on the criteria outlined in the Phase 2: Quality Review section of this RFP. Proposals must receive an aggregate score of 75 points or more to be recommended for funding. Final Funding Recommendations will be made based on the amount of funding 2016 Independent Living Program (ILP) RFP 16 P a g e

28 available and the amount of proposals that score above the 75 point funding line. Quality Review results and final funding recommendations will be posted on the LAHSA website and presented to the LAHSA Commission for approval. Quality Review results for the recommended proposals does not guarantee funding. a) Phase 1: Threshold Review Proposals must meet the following threshold criteria for eligibility: Attendance at the Mandatory Proposers Conference: Proposers must attend the mandatory Proposers Conference for this RFP. Completeness: Proposals will be reviewed for completeness. Proposals that do not include all of the requested core documents, demonstrate subcontractor eligibility, project appropriateness, and required identification of match/leverage of additional funding to support the program as detailed in this RFP will be rejected at the Evaluation Panel s sole discretion. Target Population: The project must serve the target population as defined in this RFP. All populations served must meet HUD s definition of chronically homelessness. Housing Type: Only Transitional Housing (TH) projects will be considered for funding under this RFP. Housing First: All proposed projects must adhere to the Housing First model of housing assistance, which means that housing is offered without preconditions (such as sobriety or a minimum income threshold) or service participation requirements, and rapid placement and stabilization in permanent housing are primary goals. Coordinated Entry System Participation: Proposers must demonstrate current participation with the appropriate SPA-based CES for Youth and must demonstrate how the proposed program will impact service gaps in the existing system(s). Experience: All non-governmental Proposers must have been incorporated and have been operational as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing housing and/or services to homeless persons for at least two years. However, agencies that have been providing services to homeless persons under the auspices of another incorporated 501(c)(3) organization for at least two years and have since obtained their own 501(c)(3) status may be eligible for funding under this RFP. All governmental agencies must also have been operational as an entity providing services to homeless persons for at least two years. Especially well planned proposals may be considered even if the required twenty-four (24) months of experience has not been met at the time of proposal submission. Both the Proposer and all organizations involved in the proposed project are subject to this review Independent Living Program (ILP) RFP 17 P a g e

29 The experience of the identified proposer or Lead Agency and all proposed subcontractors will be assessed in this category. If the proposal is a formal (nonmonetary) collaboration between agencies, past experience of the more experienced agency will be assessed in this category. Collaborations must be formal and long-term with resources shared between agencies. Decision-making for the proposed program must be coordinated with clear roles and responsibilities for each agency. Documentation must be formalized with a formalized written agreement between the parties. Past Compliance: The Proposers must be in compliance with applicable civil rights laws and Executive Orders. There must be no outstanding findings of noncompliance with civil rights statutes, Executive Orders, or regulations, unresolved secretarial charge of discrimination issued under the Fair Housing Act, and no adjudications of civil rights violations on a civil action. There must be no debarment history or negative findings in the System for Award Management (SAM). Proposers must not have any instances of fraud or embezzlement convictions in the past five (5) years. In addition, the Proposer must not have any instance of terminated funding for cause from any funding source (governmental and non-governmental sources) in the past five (5) years. LAHSA reserves the right to deny the funding request for a new project, if the request is made by an existing recipient that is found to have significant issues related to capacity, performance, or unresolved audit/monitoring finding related to one or more existing contracts. The above stated standards for Past Compliance must be met by all proposers and all proposed subcontractors who will be responsible for the performance of the proposed program. HMIS: Proposers must participate in the LA CoC HMIS implemented by LAHSA and adhere to all the implementation guidelines developed under HMIS. If the proposer is a DV provider, the proposer must participate in a comparable HUD approved system and adhere to all the implementation guidelines developed under HMIS. LAHSA shall provide the selected Proposers with the basic training required to utilize HMIS. Failure to input complete, accurate and timely client and project information on HMIS may result in reimbursement delay, payment reduction, or contract suspension. Awardees must be enrolled in and have implemented HMIS prior to contract execution. Projects dedicated to serving 100% domestic violence populations are required to utilize an alternate database system, not funded by LAHSA, which provides required HUD data sets. Organizational Capacity & Financial Stability: An organization s experience directly related to carrying out the proposed project is of critical importance. The panel will evaluate the experience, capability, and capacity of the Proposer, collaborators, partners, and key subcontractors to administer the proposed project. If the proposal is a formal collaboration between agencies, past experience of the more experienced provider will be assessed in this category. The Proposer s demonstrated capacity to 2016 Independent Living Program (ILP) RFP 18 P a g e