ESCAMBIA COUNTY EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS RAPID REHOUSING AND HOMELESS PREVENTION ACTIVITIES REVISED 7/17/18

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1 ESCAMBIA COUNTY EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS RAPID REHOUSING AND HOMELESS PREVENTION ACTIVITIES REVISED 7/17/18 OVERVIEW: Escambia County is an entitlement community for Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program as funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Escambia County Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program provides funds to rapidly re-house homeless individuals and families and prevent families and individuals from homelessness. Escambia County is requesting proposals from qualified, local 501(c)(3) non-profit organization(s) who are interested in implementing the Rapid Re- Housing (RRH) and Homeless Prevention (HP) activities under the ESG program. An overview of these two activities are as follows: A. Rapid Rehousing (24 CFR ): Provide housing relocation and stabilization services and short- and/or medium-term rental assistance as necessary to help a homeless individual or family move as quickly as possible into permanent housing and achieve stability in that housing. All applicants must be literally homeless or fleeing or attempting to flee violence as outlined in the regulations noted above. Assistance includes short-term (up to 3 months) and medium-term (up to 18 months) rental assistance, rental arrears, rental application fees, advance payment of last month s rent, security deposits, utility deposits and payments. B. Homeless Prevention (24 CFR ): Provide housing relocation and stabilization services and short and/or medium-term rental assistance as necessary to prevent individuals and families who are thirty (30) percent below area median income from moving into an emergency shelter or other place described in paragraph (1) of the homeless definition at 576.2(1). Applicants be homeless or at risk of homelessness as outlined in the regulations noted above. Assistance includes short-term (up to 3 months) and medium-term (up to 18 months) rental assistance, rental arrears, rental application fees, advance payment of last month s rent, security deposits, utility deposits and payments. The Request for Proposals (RFP) is seeking a partner that is able to administer client intake, property habitability inspections, and utilize the HMIS and coordinated entry intake systems. Approximately $65,321 is available under this strategy for income eligible households; a portion of this funding may be utilized for administrative oversight. WHO MAY APPLY: The County is looking for a qualified not for profit partner to help administer ESG Rapid Rehousing (RRH) and Homeless Prevention (HP) to the greatest extent possible. Not for profit organizations incorporated in 1 P age

2 the State of Florida with a 501(c)(3) status are eligible to apply under this RFP. Agency must have been in existence for at least two years. Successful partner agency will have experience in managing income qualifications and performing property inspections as required by ESG regulations. The successful partner must also currently be utilizing the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and participating in coordinated entry. ESG funding requires a 100% grant match with cash and/or noncash contributions. Participating agency must demonstrate the ability to matching ESG funds. FUNDING: $65,321 is available in ESG funding under this RFP. The County is prioritizing 75% of the funding for RRH activities. A portion of this funding may be utilized to offset the costs for program administration, including costs for determining eligibility, HMIS data collection and reporting, as well as support services to facilitate housing for clients. Administrative funds must be reported as a RRH or HP activity. Additional funds may be made available depending on program needs. NOTE: No financial assistance is to be provided directly to the client; all funds must be distributed to a third-party. APPLICANTS: All clients assisted with ESG funds must be at or below 30% of the area median income adjusted for family size in accordance with the locally approved Consolidated Plan regardless of whether applicant is receiving HP or RRH assistance. The program participant must meet the definition of homeless under 24 CFR 576.2(1) or (2) or meet criteria of unaccompanied youth at 576.2(3) or fleeing/attempting to flee violence as described in 576.2(4). Funds may only be expended for Escambia County clients. Partner agency will be required to complete a client intake to verify eligibility for the ESG program. Current income limits are listed below. # PERSONS IN FAMILY 30% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME (AMI) 1 $13, , , , , , , ,850 2 P age

3 ESG PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS: Funding provided by federal ESG Program and must abide by all program guidelines, including local program specific requirements. An excerpt from the Escambia County Consolidated Plan detailing local ESG guidelines is in italics below. The full text of the Consolidated Plan is available at: General information about the Emergency Solutions Grants Program, including ESG laws and regulations can be found here: 3 P age ESG ASSISTANCE GUIDELINES EXCERPT FROM CONSOLIDATED PLAN: (a) Basic Eligibility Requirements: Qualification for Rapid Re-Housing or Homelessness Prevention assistance under the Program shall minimally include: 1. Program participants must meet the definition of homeless stipulated at 24 CFR Part subparagraphs (1), (2), (3) or (4) and/or the definition of at risk of homelessness as stipulated in 24 CFR Part subparagraph (1). 2. The total income for the household is less than 30% of the area median income adjusted for family size (as adjusted annually by HUD). Qualifying incomes for ESG assisted households will be calculated in the manner prescribed in the Section 8 Housing Assistance Program. 3. Each household (applicant) shall participate in case management and assessment as provided and required by the Single Service Delivery Agency. 4. The household (applicant) and/or the Service Delivery Agency(s) shall document that the applicant will not be able to retain housing but for the assistance provided from ESG resources. 5. The rent for any subsidized housing unit shall not exceed the applicable Pensacola MSA fair market rent based on bedroom size as published by HUD and the rent shall be reasonable. (b) Income Eligibility Determination: Income eligibility shall be determined based upon gross household income from all sources and is to be project for the ensuing 12 months based upon known or anticipated income for members of the household. Income inclusions and exclusions shall be based upon provisions of 24 CFR Part 5.609(b) & (c). (c) Maximum Household Assistance: The maximum assistance that can be provided to a single household will be established for each annual ESG funding cycle, however the amount shall be based on the documented needs of the household and will typically be significantly less that this stated maximum. The ECOH administered HMIS system shall be utilized as a control to aid in avoiding duplication of benefits for households. (d) Determinations to aid in Eligibility Decisions: 1. Homeless Certification/Affidavit: All homeless persons/families shall execute a Homeless Certification in the form prescribed by the County and ECOH and said form shall be duly witnessed by a representative of the Single Service Delivery Agency. 2. Persons Living on the Street: Written verification that an ESG applicant is "living on the street must be provided to the Service Delivery Agency(s) by the referring agency, social worker, outreach worker, or other responsible person/entity.

4 3. Persons from Emergency Shelters/Transitional Housing: Written verification that an ESG applicant has been living in emergency shelter or transitional housing must be provided to the Service Delivery Agency(s) by the referring emergency shelter or transitional housing agency staff. 4. Persons subject to eviction: Written verification of formal eviction proceedings must be secured by the Service Delivery Agency(s). AGREEMENT INFORMATION: A formal agreement will be entered with the agency subject to approval by the Board of County Commissioners. Payments may be submitted on a bi-weekly or monthly basis unless specified or requested otherwise. An operating advance may be provided upon request to assist with the project. Reporting on activities and expenditures must be provided to the County on a quarterly basis at a minimum. TENTATIVE SCHEDULE: July 9, 2018 July 18, 2018 July 19-27, 2018 August 2, 2018 November 2, 2018 October 30, 2019 Request for Proposals Issued Submission Deadline Proposal Review and Funding Recommendation BCC Approval of Funding Agreement Deadline to expend encumber 50% of funds Deadline to expend all funds SUBMISSION INFORMATION: Please complete the following proposal application together with current 501(c)(3) status and submit by 5:00 p.m. CST WednesdayFriday, July 1827, 2018: Meredith Reeves, Division Manager Escambia County Neighborhood Enterprise Division 221 Palafox Place, Suite 200 Pensacola, FL Phone: mareeves@myescambia.com 4 P age

5 ESCAMBIA COUNTY EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS RAPID REHOUSING AND HOMELESS PREVENTION ACTIVITIES Please complete the following in its entirety, sign and return to the County at the contact listed in the RFP by the deadline stated. Additional sheets may be utilized as necessary. 1. Contact Information: Applicant Name: Mailing Address: Address: Phone Number: Primary Contact/Title: 2. Is your agency a 501(c)(3)? YES NO Please include a copy of your 501(c)(3) information 3. Is your agency incorporated in the State of Florida, with an active listing with the Florida Division of Corporations? YES NO 4. Has your agency been in existence for at least 2 years? YES NO Date of incorporation: 5. Is your agency familiar with the ESG program, including income qualification requirements for applicants? YES NO If yes, please describe your previous experience with ESG program administration, including qualifications of staff. 5 P age

6 6. Does your agency actively participate in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)? YES NO (Note: active participation in HMIS is mandatory for agencies receiving ESG funding. HMIS participation will be verified prior to award of funds) 7. Does your agency have the ability to leverage other non-county funding in order to provide the ESG required 100% match? YES NO If yes, please list each source and describe the amount and source of leveraged funds (private, local, state, federal). Describe any limitations on the use of match funds or resources. Provide any supporting documentation of match as available; match should available during the ESG contract. Federal Funds: State/Local Funding List Source Amount Cash Volunteer time (in dollars) Donated Goods Other: Other: 8. Proposed Project Budget: Rapid Rehousing Direct Client Services ESG FUNDS REQUESTED AGENCY MATCHING FUNDS (detail in #7) TOTAL FUNDS Rapid Rehousing Administrative Case Management Homeless Prevention Direct Client Services Homeless Prevention Administrative Case Management TOTALS: 6 P age

7 9. Indicate the estimated number of individuals proposed to be served by the project: Rapid Rehousing: Number of Adults: Number of Children: Homeless Prevention: Number of Adults: Number of Children: I acknowledge that I have reviewed the application and 24 CFR 576 and all information provided in this application is true to the best of my belief. Signed: Print Name and Title: Date: Agency Applicants acknowledge that all information provided in this application is considered a public record to the extent of the State of Florida public record law. 7 P age