Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing 2 Program …

1 1 Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing 2 Program FY 2019 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: $ million Maximum amount of award: $400,000 per grant Eligible entities: Nonprofits organizations servicing Bergen, Cape May, Cumberland, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Union, Somerset and Warren Counties who have at least 5 years of experience administering Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing programs. Agencies selected must service the entire county. Target populations: Homeless households and households at imminent risk of becoming homeless.

2 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 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 the Program participants.

3 Such services include: 1) developing an individualized housing and self-sufficiency plan (including job search and career advancement); 2 2) identifying and obtaining services for Program participants; 3) monthly monitoring and evaluation of the Program participant s progress for the duration of assistance ; and 4) follow-up at the 3-month, 6-month, 9-month and 12-month intervals. 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.

4 Rapid Re-Housing Financial assistance : Security Deposit: up to 1 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. 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) monthly monitoring and evaluation of the Program participant s progress for the duration of assistance ; and 4) follow-up at the 3-month, 6-month, 9-month and 12-month intervals.

5 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. 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. 3 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 (1-6 Months) $833 RR Short-term (1-6 Months) $833 RR Medium term (7-12 Months) $250 per month for six months Up to $1,500 4 Housing Search/Placement $75 5 Credit Repair $100 6 Housing Quality Standards (HQS)

6 $50 Re-inspection $25 CONTRACT FEES BUDGET AMOUNT 1 ADMINISTRATION $15,000 2 DATA COLLECTION -- ($750 Annual HMIS fee + $15 per hour for data entry staff) $10,000 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 4 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 Application Process: Program Narrative All applicants must submit in SAGE a written narrative that describes the following.

7 Agency s mission, staff capacity, experience in rental assistance /supportive services and financial management Number of households assisted with prior Homelessness Prevention / Rapid Re-Housing Program funds Program services and linkages with other community-based agencies Data Collection Identification and qualifications of staff that will participate in the project and in the administration of the grant Proposed Project Budget (please note that 70% of the funds must be used for Rapid Re-Housing activities) TOTAL BUDGET$400,000 TOTAL$117,000$283,000 Case ManagementHousing Search/PlacementCredit RepairData Collection/Evaluation Medium-Term Utility Deposits/PaymentsMoving Cost assistance Short-Term Security DepositsHOMELESSNESS Prevention AND Rapid Re-Housing 2 Program BUDGETBUDGET CATEGORYHOMELESSNESS Prevention MAXIMUM BUDGETRAPID Re-Housing MAXIMUM BUDGETA dministrationRental Assistance5 Required Attachments: Staff resumes Letter of Support County Continuum of Care Letter from HMIS provider Certificate of Incorporation Recent by-laws Audits for the last 3 years Submission of Proposals: The proposal must be submitted via SAGE (including all attachments) Application submission deadline: August Date by which applicants shall be notified: October Reporting requirements: Monthly performance reports shall be submitted via SAGE Grantee Performance Outcomes.

8 A minimum of 40 households will be assisted All participants will receive a minimum of 2 case management visits (at least one hour every month) At least 50% 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 6 Threshold Requirements: Only applications that meet all of the following threshold requirements will be scored; applications missing any documents identified in numbers 7-11 will be provided 5 days to upload same. 1. Minimum of five years of experience in providing services such as financial assistance , housing relocation and stabilization services to the target population 2. Attend mandatory technical assistance workshop 3. Be an active participant in the local Continuum of Care 4. Be an active participant in HMIS 5. Receive a letter of support from the local Continuum of Care 6.

9 Agree to attend a HMIS training workshop 7. Submit the last 3 years of audits; applicant must show that it has enough income to sustain staff and effectively administer the grant. Please note that HPRP2 is a reimbursement Program ; grantees must have the ability to advance the funds and be reimbursed the following month 8. Submit Bylaws 9. Submit Certification of Incorporation 10. Submit staff resumes and current organizational chart 11. Submit verification of current SAM registration 12. Complete all certifications sheets Rating Criteria: A review panel will thoroughly review and evaluate all applications against the rating criteria listed below. Maximum 100 Points 1. Applicant s Capacity and Experience: Does the applicant have the capacity to successfully administer the Program ? (Maximum 30 Points) a. Appropriate staff and financial structure b. Sufficient income from multiple sources to sustain staff and operate the proposed project c.

10 Prior experience providing proposed activities 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. Please note that any applicant who has had HPRP funds recaptured by DCA in the last two fiscal years will lose 10 points Scoring Criteria Marginal Response 1-5 Points Acceptable Response Maximum 20 Points Excellent Response Maximum 30 Points The applicant s response was incomplete, lacks clarity and does not provide assurance as to their ability to perform the work proposed. The applicant s response was clear, thorough and provides reasonable assurance as to their capacity to perform the work proposed. In addition, the applicant has sufficient income to sustain staff and effectively administer the grant.