Categories: Funding, New York State
08.19.2019
The Network emphasized key details of the RFP, including differences from previous years.
On August 16th, New York State released the fourth-round Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) Request for Proposals (RFP), due on September 25, 2019. The State is issuing this RFP to advance the five-year goal of developing 6,000 units of supportive housing over five years. Funding for at least 1,200 qualifying individuals will be awarded through this RFP.
The eligible target populations are families with a qualifying individual, individuals, and/or young adults who are both homeless* and who are identified as having an unmet housing need as determined by the Continuum of Care Program (CoC)/local planning entity/ other supplemental local, state and federal data, AND have one or more disabling conditions or other life challenges*. *Please refer to the Network's Funding Guide for definitions.
New York State will award up to $25,000 in services and operating funding annually for each qualifying individual.
What's New?
Award Allocations by Population Categories. Eligible populations are grouped into the following:
Category One - (Chronic homelessness, SMI, SUD);
Category Two - (Reentry, HIV, Youth/ Young Adult);
Category Three - (DV, Military Service, Frail Elderly/ Seniors, I/DD)
A minimum of 50% of the number of awards that will be issued pursuant to this RFP will be allocated to Category One; no more than 25% to Category Two; and no more than 25% to Category Three.
Homeless Definition was Modified. In order to be considered homeless for the purposes of this RFP, an individual must meet one of the following criteria:
- be an un-domiciled person (whether alone or as a member of a family) who is unable to secure permanent and stable housing without special assistance. This includes those who are inappropriately housed in an institutional facility and can safely live in the community and those young adults, survivors of domestic violence, and individuals with I/DD who are at risk of homelessness;
- be a youth or young adult who left foster care within the prior five years and who was in foster care at or over age 16, and who is without permanent and stable housing;
- be an adult or young adult reentering the community from incarceration or juvenile justice placement, who was released or discharged, and who is without permanent and stable housing; or
- be a young adult between the ages of 18 and 25 years of age without a permanent residence, including those aging out of a residential school for individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability.
Projects Involving Capital Funding from New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Applicants that intend to apply to HPD for capital financing following receipt of a conditional ESSHI award must clearly specify the intended referral source in the ESSHI application. Prior to obtaining a committed ESSHI award, conditional awardees utilizing capital funding from HPD may be required to obtain written confirmation (e.g., soft commitment letter) from each agency administering the capital funding source applicable to the project that acknowledges and specifies the referral source(s) for the project.
Living Situations at Time of Referral. Acceptable living situations at time of referral include unsheltered homeless; sheltered homeless; prison; institutions (State Psychiatric Center or Developmental Center); hospital or nursing home*; medical respite; and OPWDD-eligible individuals who have been determined to meet the level of emergency need through the Certified Residential Opportunities review process. *Persons referred must have been homeless prior to placement in hospitals or nursing homes.
Important Dates
RFP Release Date: 8/16/19
Bidder’s Conferences: 9/3/19 and 9/5/19
Questions Due: 9/11/19 by 2 p.m.
Questions Posted on Website: 9/18/19
Proposals Due: 9/25/19 by 2 p.m.
Conditional Award Notifications: 11/6/19
Contract Start Date: TBD
Bidder's Conferences
Two Bidder’s Conferences indicated below have been scheduled to provide information regarding the RFP. Note that there will be a morning and afternoon session each day offering the same information.
Attendance at the Bidder’s Conference is not required to apply for ESSHI. Attendance at more than one session is discouraged due to limited seating. Pre-registration is not necessary. These dates are subject to change. Any changes will be announced on the OMH website.
Proposals for the 2019 ESSHI RFP are due on September 25, 2019. Visit the Network's Funding Guide for more details on the RFP.