HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND RAPID RE-HOUSING 2 PROGRAM FY 2018 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) Name of grant program: Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing 2 (HPRP 2) Purpose of the grant: To provide: (1) temporary rental assistance and stabilization services to assist individuals and families living on the streets or in emergency shelters obtain permanent housing; and (2) assistance to households in imminent risk of homelessness due to an eviction. Available funding: $3.2 million Maximum amount of award: $400,000 per grant Eligible entities: Nonprofits organizations servicing Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Essex, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset and Sussex counties. Agencies selected must service the entire county. Target populations: Homeless households and households at imminent risk of becoming homeless. This includes: People who are living in a place not meant for human habitation, in an emergency shelter, in transitional housing, or are exiting an institution where they temporarily resided People who are losing their primary nighttime residence, which may include a motel or hotel or a doubled up situation, within 14 days and lack resources or support networks to remain in housing Families with children or unaccompanied youth who are unstably housed and likely to continue in that state People who are fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, have no other residence, and lack the resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing Eligible activities: The program provides assistance through the following two components: (1) homelessness prevention and (2) rapid re-housing. The following summarizes each component s eligible activities: Homelessness Prevention Financial Assistance: Rental Assistance: short-term rental assistance up to 6 months Rental Arrears: up to 3 months Page 1 of 7
Utility Payments: up to 2 months for electric and gas Case Management: arrangement, coordination, monitoring, and delivery of services related to meeting the housing needs of program participants and helping them to obtain housing stability. Such services include: 1) developing an individualized housing and self-sufficiency plan (including job search and career advancement); 2) identifying and obtaining services for program participants; and three (3) month monitoring and evaluation of the program participant s progress for the duration of assistance. Credit repair, budgeting, and money management: Review client s credit report, review outstanding debt (including judgments) and work with client to create a financial stability plan. Data Collection and Evaluation: operating a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). Eligible costs include: HMFA HMIS fee for participating agencies ($750); and staffing associated with the operation of HMIS (data entry, monitoring and reviewing data quality). Please note: ineligible data collection costs include planning and development of HMIS systems, development of new software systems. Rapid Re-Housing Financial Assistance: Security Deposit: up to 1 ½ months of rent Rental Assistance: short-term rental assistance up to 6 months or medium-term rental assistance up to 12 months Utility Deposits: for electric and gas Utility Payments: up to 2 months for electric and gas Moving Cost Assistance: reasonable moving costs (such as a truck rental, hiring a moving company or short-term storage fees) for a maximum of three months or until the program participant is in housing, whichever is shorter. Case Management: arrangement, coordination, monitoring, and delivery of services related to meeting the housing needs of program participants and helping them to obtain housing stability. Such services include: 1) developing an individualized housing and self-sufficiency plan (including job search and career advancement); 2) identifying and obtaining services for program participants; 3) three (3) month monitoring and evaluation of the program participant s progress for the duration of assistance. Housing Search and Placement: assist program participants to locate, secure, and retain suitable housing. Credit repair, budgeting, and money management: Review client s credit report, review outstanding debt (including judgments) and work with client to create a financial stability plan. Page 2 of 7
Data Collection and Evaluation: operating a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). Eligible costs include: HMFA HMIS fee for participating agencies ($750) Staffing associated with the operation of HMIS (data entry, monitoring and reviewing data quality) Please note: ineligible data collection costs include planning and development of HMIS systems, development of new software systems, and replacing state and local government funding for an existing HMIS The following are the direct service fees and contract fees associated with the budget: HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND RAPID RE-HOUSING 2 DIRECT COSTS BUDGET CATEGORY FLAT FEE PER HOUSEHOLD ASSISTED 1 Rental Assistance Short-term/medium term including security and utility deposits $68 2 Moving Cost Assistance $40 3 Case Management HP $833 RR Short-term $833 RR Medium term - 7-12 months $250per month for six months Up to $1,500 4 Housing Search/Placement $75 5 Credit Repair $100 6 Housing Quality Standards (HQS) $50 Re-inspection $25 CONTRACT FEES BUDGET AMOUNT 7 ADMINISTRATION $15,000 8 DATA COLLECTION -- ($750 Annual HMIS fee + $15 per hour for data entry staff) $10,000 Page 3 of 7
Ineligible activities: Employment training or child care Mortgage costs or other expenses needed by homeowners for fees, taxes, or other costs of refinancing a mortgage Construction or rehabilitation Credit card bills or consumer debt Car repair or transportation costs Food Medical, dental care or medication Clothing and grooming costs Home furnishings Pet care Entertainment activities Work or education-related materials Cash assistance to program participants Discharge planning initiatives Hotel and motel stays Providing assistance to renters residing in a property owned by the grantee, sub-grantee or the parent, subsidiary or affiliated organization of the sub-grantee or a Board member Renter s or Homeowner s Insurance Qualifications of applicants in order to be considered for funding under grant program: Applicants will have the experience and the capacity to successfully undertake the proposed activities. Applicants cannot propose to subcontract grant activities. Experience providing similar services and assistance Experience working with the target population Capacity to successfully manage previous program grants. Achieved prior grant objectives within the established time frame Provided accurate cost estimates of the proposed work Expended grant awards correctly and in a timely manner Produced and submitted performance and financial reports correctly and on-time via SAGE Have submitted their current audit and have no unresolved audit findings with DCA Application Process: Program Narrative All applicants must submit in SAGE a written narrative that describes the following: 1. Prior experience in administering homelessness prevention/rapid re-housing programs 2. Description of intake and application process 3. Proposed use of funds Page 4 of 7
4. Projected number of households to be assisted by eligible activity (short-term rental assistance; medium-term rental assistance; security deposits; utility deposits/payments; housing search and placement; credit repair) 5. Description of how the project will provide housing stabilization and support services to the homeless households and those at risk of being homeless; including coordination with other resources in the community 6. Identification and qualifications of staff that will participate in the project and the administration; including bi-lingual staff. Proposed Project Budget (please note that 70% of the funds must be used for rapid rehousing activities) HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND RAPID RE-HOUSING PROGRAM BUDGET BUDGET CATEGORY Administration HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION MAXIMUM BUDGET RAPID RE-HOUSING MAXIMUM BUDGET TOTAL BUDGET Rental Assistance Rent Arrears Short Term Medium Term Security Deposit Utility Deposit Utility Payments Moving Cost Assistance Case Management Housing Search/Placement Credit Repair Data Collection/Evaluation TOTAL $ 117,000.00 $ 283,000.00 $ 400,000.00 Page 5 of 7
Required Attachments: Staff resumes Letter of Support County Continuum of Care Letter from HMIS provider Submission of Proposals: The proposal must be submitted via SAGE (including all attachments) Application submission deadline: July 17, 2017 Date by which applicants shall be notified: October 11, 2017 Reporting requirements: Monthly performance reports shall be submitted via SAGE Grantee Performance Outcomes: A minimum of 40 households will be assisted A minimum of 28 households will be moved from emergency shelter to permanent housing in less than 90 days A minimum of 12 households at risk of becoming homeless will have their housing stabilized All participants will receive a minimum of 2 case management visits (at least one hour every 3 months) All participants will receive a minimum of 2 credit and budget counseling sessions; at least one hour every 3 months At least 75% of the participants will still be residing in stable housing in 6 months At least 50% of the participants will still be residing in stable housing in 12 months Page 6 of 7
Rating Criteria A review panel will thoroughly review and evaluate all applications against the rating criteria listed below. Maximum 100 Points 1. Experience and capacity of the applicant to successfully undertake the proposed activities (maximum 45 points) How experienced is the applicant in working with the target population? (proven track record of providing direct service to persons who are homeless or at risk of homelessness) Does the applicant have the capacity to provide effective services to persons with limited English proficiency? Has the applicant demonstrated effective grant management? Achieved prior grant objectives with the established time frame; Expended previous grant awards correctly and in a timely manner. Produced and submitted prior grant s performance and financial reports correctly and on-time. Does the applicant have any unresolved audit findings with DCA? Does the applicant have a sufficient amount of revenue/income to operate the project? (HPRP is a reimbursement program; the nonprofits must have the ability to advance the funds and be reimbursed in one month). 2. Degree to which the proposed program will meet the needs of the County residents (maximum 25 points) 3. Feasibility of program budget (maximum 20 points) Are the proposed costs reasonable in light of the program design? Are the program costs proportional to the proposed number of households to be served? 4. Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Readiness (maximum10 points) Is the applicant currently utilizing HMIS? Will the applicant be prepared to participate in HMIS upon contract execution? 5. Any applicant that did not attend the mandatory technical assistance workshop will lose 60 points when their proposal is scored. Page 7 of 7