COVID-19 Response Funding for Homeless Services Provider Agencies

EV00008471

Contact Information:

Allison Singer

Allison.Singer@boston.gov

617-635-0330

The City of Boston Department of Neighborhood Development (DND) hereby invites proposals from qualified homeless services agencies for up to approximately $20 million in funding to assist with responding to the COVID-19 public health crisis in Boston. Awarded sources of funding may include but are not limited to Emergency Solutions Grant CARES Act (ESG-CV) funding, Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) and the City’s Housing Boston 2030 fund. 

Only non-profit organizations and units of local government that support communities, families, and individuals in the City of Boston who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants may partner with other agencies, organizations or companies to enhance their delivery of services. We welcome groups responding collaboratively to this RFP. 

The City’s overarching goals for this funding are to preserve life and health through investments that will help prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in homeless populations; to assist those experiencing homelessness in finding safe alternatives to congregate shelter through investment in shelter diversion programming; and to promote system transformation to address overcrowding through rapid exit from shelter in light of this public health crisis. 

The City will prioritize responses that propose any of the following activities:

●    Creating up to 170 new winter overflow shelter beds for populations experiencing homelessness 

●    Increasing rapid re-housing opportunities for households experiencing homelessness, including the creation and management of a Landlord Recruitment Program. Rapid rehousing (RRH) is a form of permanent housing that offers pre- and post-housing placement services, including but not limited to the following: housing search, case management, stabilization services and financial assistance towards rent.

●    Offering Front Door Diversion services to identify safe alternative to shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness

All eligible activities under this Request for Proposals are: Emergency shelter (operating, leasing, acquisition, food, cleaning, staffing, essential services to participants); Rapid Rehousing; Street Outreach (outreach staff, supplies for unsheltered participants); Homeless Management Information System (HMIS); and Diversion. See RFP for additional information on requirements and how activities will be prioritized for funding through this opportunity.

The Request for Proposals (“RFP”) package will be available beginning September 28, 2020 from the City’s purchasing website, Supplier Portal (boston.gov/Procurement), the City’s online process for purchasing, bidding, contracting, vendor registration and payment. To access details for this specific Event, or to respond through electronic format, please visit the City of Boston Supplier Portal and access Event #EV00008471. Completed proposals must be submitted via the Supplier Portal before 4:00 PM, October 16, 2020. LATE PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

 

Note: Please be sure to leave enough lead time before the submission deadline to complete the electronic submission process. In order to participate in these online procurement activities Applicants must register with the Supplier Portal at boston.gov/Procurement. First-Time Vendors, i.e., those who have never contracted with the City or, if so, not for many years, will be required to obtain log-in credentials, a process which can be subject to administrative delays. Instructions can be found at boston.gov/Procurement.

Sheila A. Dillon, Chief of Housing and Director