Housing First Phase VI: Request for Proposals
Online Application Due: July 5, 2022
Announcement of Awards: July 22,2022
Funding Allotment: up to $100,000
Award Distribution August 2022
Grant Period: August 2022 to June 2023
M25 Initiative Mission: The M25 Initiative is a 501c3 non-profit in Cumberland County, NJ created for the sole purpose of engaging, equipping, empowering, and mobilizing individuals and organizations to employ innovative and cooperative solutions to alleviate suffering, feed the hungry, end poverty, reduce crime, revitalize spirit, community and transform lives!
Chronic Homelessness Housing First Rapid Rehousing Grant: The M25 Initiative seeks to build upon the success of the Cumberland County Housing First Collaborative that was established in 2015. Since 2015, the Cumberland County Housing First Collaborative has housed over 110 individuals. M25 is seeking proposals to provide permanent housing and supportive services in a Housing First model utilizing Rapid Rehousing Grant funding to at least 20 chronically homeless individuals and/or families who are high utilizers of public systems.
The Rapid Rehousing (RRH) Grant funding will be provided to a lead nonprofit agency that is a member of the Cumberland County Housing First Collaborative or seeks to become a member (see previous program guidelines at: https://bit.ly/2FkvP5o). The goal: to continue the Housing First Program in Cumberland County New Jersey, wherein the homeless will immediately be housed and provided the diversified supportive services they need to retain housing and cope with, address and/or overcome the issues that caused their homelessness.
The Collaborative will evaluate the social and economic benefit of utilizing a Housing First approach for the disabled, long-term homeless, over a traditional emergency service-driven system. Outcome measures will evaluate the Initiative’s impact on permanent housing retention; shelter use; use of emergency medical and psychiatric services; utilization of public assistance; Medicaid expenditure; and recovery as defined by SAMHSA to include improved health, home, purpose, and community.
The Collaborative utilizes the Housing First Philosophy, which prioritizes assisting the long-term homeless in expediently accessing permanent housing and providing them with the supportive services they need to retain that housing. The Housing First Philosophy includes low barrier program admission criteria with no preconditions of treatment completion, sobriety and/or abstinence, clean criminal or credit history, and income.
The Housing First philosophy recognizes that individuals and families may be better able to benefit from supportive services when housing is stabilized. Program participants will not be required to engage in services but will receive continuous encouragement from program staff to participate in the wealth of service opportunities made available and tailored to individual household needs. In congruence with the Housing First Philosophy, the Housing First Program services will work from a Harm Reduction Framework where participants will receive assistance in reducing behaviors that negatively impact their recovery and housing.
The Collaborative model reflects successful Housing First initiatives from throughout the country, by utilizing scattered site rental units, and a single integrated supportive service team comprised of interdisciplinary professionals who combined can either directly offer or establish linkages to community-based medical care; behavioral and mental health care; case management; independent living skills training; employment services; financial literacy; benefits coordination; and housing search assistance.
Funding is to be utilized to provide rapid rehousing funding and wrap-around case management services (for at least 12 months) for chronically homeless individuals, as defined by HUD, veterans, or individuals with children. This project is to utilize a collective impact approach with the housing first philosophy and progressive engagement. Progressive Engagement. Progressive Engagement is a nationally recognized best practice in addressing the needs of RRH participants, which provides customized levels of assistance to households and preserves the most extensive interventions for households with the most severe barriers to housing success. In a Progressive Engagement approach, participant needs are met with the appropriate level of services, starting with the least intensive service and increasing service level as needed.
Target Population:
The Target Populations (in order of preference):
Eligibility:
The Collaborative prioritization will be as follows:
The successful applicant will work within the scope and spirit of the Housing First Collaborative’s Phase 6 MOU.
Applications must describe plans for outreach and engagement, demonstrate strong experience in working with the targeted populations, and describe plans for data tracking and collection to show the success of the project in increasing housing stability and reducing high usage of public systems. The application must include the process for developing a wrap-around case management services plan for each client that utilizes a collaborative approach among members of the Housing First Collaborative.
Applications must describe how the project will coordinate supportive services with other resources in the community to maximize the amount of assistance provided to the project’s participants. Applications must include a timeline showing the project’s milestones: outreach, case management, lease-up, delivery of supportive services, etc. Applicants should demonstrate how the RRH program will be integrated with the Code Blue programs in the County.
The application must outline how the funding will be utilized on a per client basis for: Housing Assistance (Transitional Housing and Apartment-Subsidy), Wrap-Around Case Management, and Administrative Fees. The M25 Initiative prioritizes applicants that are able to provide the most amount of funding to client needs.
Financial Assistance Restrictions: M25 Initiative’s RRH funding is not intended to provide long-term support for households, nor will it be able to address all the financial and supportive services needs of households that affect housing stability.
Applications must describe a plan to integrate community volunteers to assist with move-ins and/or mentoring programs.
The lead agency is responsible for:
Questions: Please contact Dave Moore, moored3@ihn.org.
Announcement of Awards: July 22,2022
Funding Allotment: up to $100,000
Award Distribution August 2022
Grant Period: August 2022 to June 2023
M25 Initiative Mission: The M25 Initiative is a 501c3 non-profit in Cumberland County, NJ created for the sole purpose of engaging, equipping, empowering, and mobilizing individuals and organizations to employ innovative and cooperative solutions to alleviate suffering, feed the hungry, end poverty, reduce crime, revitalize spirit, community and transform lives!
Chronic Homelessness Housing First Rapid Rehousing Grant: The M25 Initiative seeks to build upon the success of the Cumberland County Housing First Collaborative that was established in 2015. Since 2015, the Cumberland County Housing First Collaborative has housed over 110 individuals. M25 is seeking proposals to provide permanent housing and supportive services in a Housing First model utilizing Rapid Rehousing Grant funding to at least 20 chronically homeless individuals and/or families who are high utilizers of public systems.
The Rapid Rehousing (RRH) Grant funding will be provided to a lead nonprofit agency that is a member of the Cumberland County Housing First Collaborative or seeks to become a member (see previous program guidelines at: https://bit.ly/2FkvP5o). The goal: to continue the Housing First Program in Cumberland County New Jersey, wherein the homeless will immediately be housed and provided the diversified supportive services they need to retain housing and cope with, address and/or overcome the issues that caused their homelessness.
The Collaborative will evaluate the social and economic benefit of utilizing a Housing First approach for the disabled, long-term homeless, over a traditional emergency service-driven system. Outcome measures will evaluate the Initiative’s impact on permanent housing retention; shelter use; use of emergency medical and psychiatric services; utilization of public assistance; Medicaid expenditure; and recovery as defined by SAMHSA to include improved health, home, purpose, and community.
The Collaborative utilizes the Housing First Philosophy, which prioritizes assisting the long-term homeless in expediently accessing permanent housing and providing them with the supportive services they need to retain that housing. The Housing First Philosophy includes low barrier program admission criteria with no preconditions of treatment completion, sobriety and/or abstinence, clean criminal or credit history, and income.
The Housing First philosophy recognizes that individuals and families may be better able to benefit from supportive services when housing is stabilized. Program participants will not be required to engage in services but will receive continuous encouragement from program staff to participate in the wealth of service opportunities made available and tailored to individual household needs. In congruence with the Housing First Philosophy, the Housing First Program services will work from a Harm Reduction Framework where participants will receive assistance in reducing behaviors that negatively impact their recovery and housing.
The Collaborative model reflects successful Housing First initiatives from throughout the country, by utilizing scattered site rental units, and a single integrated supportive service team comprised of interdisciplinary professionals who combined can either directly offer or establish linkages to community-based medical care; behavioral and mental health care; case management; independent living skills training; employment services; financial literacy; benefits coordination; and housing search assistance.
Funding is to be utilized to provide rapid rehousing funding and wrap-around case management services (for at least 12 months) for chronically homeless individuals, as defined by HUD, veterans, or individuals with children. This project is to utilize a collective impact approach with the housing first philosophy and progressive engagement. Progressive Engagement. Progressive Engagement is a nationally recognized best practice in addressing the needs of RRH participants, which provides customized levels of assistance to households and preserves the most extensive interventions for households with the most severe barriers to housing success. In a Progressive Engagement approach, participant needs are met with the appropriate level of services, starting with the least intensive service and increasing service level as needed.
Target Population:
The Target Populations (in order of preference):
- Chronically Homeless (Veteran)/Disabled
- Chronically Homeless/Disabled
- Code Blue Clients and Referrals
- Homelessness related to health status changes/disability
- Family Homeless
- Veteran Homeless
- Homeless who are “high end user” of the correctional facility and/or hospital system
- Homeless
Eligibility:
- The household may not exceed 125% poverty level.
- The household must be homeless
- The household must be able to afford rent after 3 months of rental subsidies.
- Must meet the following circumstances:
- No appropriate subsequent housing options have been identified;
- The household lacks the financial resources to obtain immediate housing
- The household lacks support networks needed to obtain immediate housing
The Collaborative prioritization will be as follows:
- Unsheltered Chronically homeless with the longest history of homelessness and most severe need
- Unsheltered Chronically homeless with the most severe need
- Unsheltered Chronically homeless with the longest history of homelessness
- Sheltered Chronically homeless with the longest history of homelessness and most severe need
- Sheltered Chronically homeless with the most severe need
- Sheltered Chronically homeless with the longest history of homelessness
- Unsheltered homeless with the longest history of homelessness and most severe need
- Unsheltered homeless with the most severe need
- Unsheltered homeless with the longest history
The successful applicant will work within the scope and spirit of the Housing First Collaborative’s Phase 6 MOU.
Applications must describe plans for outreach and engagement, demonstrate strong experience in working with the targeted populations, and describe plans for data tracking and collection to show the success of the project in increasing housing stability and reducing high usage of public systems. The application must include the process for developing a wrap-around case management services plan for each client that utilizes a collaborative approach among members of the Housing First Collaborative.
Applications must describe how the project will coordinate supportive services with other resources in the community to maximize the amount of assistance provided to the project’s participants. Applications must include a timeline showing the project’s milestones: outreach, case management, lease-up, delivery of supportive services, etc. Applicants should demonstrate how the RRH program will be integrated with the Code Blue programs in the County.
The application must outline how the funding will be utilized on a per client basis for: Housing Assistance (Transitional Housing and Apartment-Subsidy), Wrap-Around Case Management, and Administrative Fees. The M25 Initiative prioritizes applicants that are able to provide the most amount of funding to client needs.
Financial Assistance Restrictions: M25 Initiative’s RRH funding is not intended to provide long-term support for households, nor will it be able to address all the financial and supportive services needs of households that affect housing stability.
- Participants may receive up to 9 monthly rental assistance payments, including rental arrears, as needed to obtain and maintain housing. For all participants, case management may continue for no more than six (6) months after rental assistance has ended and the total number of months of case management assistance received must never exceed 24 months.
- Every three (3) months from the date of entry in the program, agencies must conduct re-evaluations of participants. To continue receiving rental assistance, participants must demonstrate continued need and eligibility.
- Eligible costs may include first and last month’s rent; security deposits, rental application fees; moving costs; utility deposits, payments, and arrears; and other costs depending on the needs of the household.
Applications must describe a plan to integrate community volunteers to assist with move-ins and/or mentoring programs.
The lead agency is responsible for:
- Funding distribution report (TFDR) provided to the M25 board quarterly that provides individuals housed and the utilization of funding The funding needs to support rapid housing and/or community wrap around case management support, TFDR is expected quarterly to the M25 executive committee with specific due date on the first of October, January, April, and June.
- TFDR must include updates on all referrals, intakes, and on-going case management services.
- TFDR must include case management wrap-around supportive services plans for clients that have been approved for the program.
- Beyond the funding distribution, regular communication among partners, consumers and community stakeholders is the expectation. All M25 housing referrals will be addressed and reviewed during the monthly case management meetings by the lead agency.
- The lead agency will actively seek all available support and utilize M25 funding when needed to initiate housing or maintain wrap around community support.
- The lead agency will effectively coordinate and communicate with community volunteers to engage in the move-in process of a client.
- The lead agency will address any concerns of the M25 Initiative’s Board of Trustees within seven business days of receipt.
Questions: Please contact Dave Moore, moored3@ihn.org.
Granting Priorities:
Grant requests submitted to the Initiative are viewed in light of our primary objectives as found in Matthew 25:35-36- “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
Accordingly, the Initiative has outlined the following priorities by which grant decisions will be made:
1. We seek to equip and empower local organizations and faith-based entities to provide safety net services to the poor and homeless.
2. Priority will be given to churches and non-profit organizations who have directly participated in the Code Blue and/or the Housing First program (e.g. Move-In Sponsor, Collaborative Partner) and/or Food Insecurity Grants.
3. We desire to support dynamic projects that show faith in action. Therefore, we typically do not fund individuals who are serving in administrative roles, or projects for debt relief, land or building purchases. Priority will be given to proposals that have reduced administrative fees.
4. The M25 Initiative developed from the Cumberland County Code Blue Program that demonstrated tremendous success in working with other churches & non-profits in meeting the needs of the community. Therefore, we will give priority to projects that meet community needs through community partnerships. Proposals should identify partner agencies with supporting documentation (e.g. letter of intent to partner).
5. Organizations must be willing to invest financially in a project for the M25 Initiative to consider funding that project. We do not consider in-kind contributions alone as local faith-based/non-profit organization financial support.
Grant requests submitted to the Initiative are viewed in light of our primary objectives as found in Matthew 25:35-36- “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
Accordingly, the Initiative has outlined the following priorities by which grant decisions will be made:
1. We seek to equip and empower local organizations and faith-based entities to provide safety net services to the poor and homeless.
2. Priority will be given to churches and non-profit organizations who have directly participated in the Code Blue and/or the Housing First program (e.g. Move-In Sponsor, Collaborative Partner) and/or Food Insecurity Grants.
3. We desire to support dynamic projects that show faith in action. Therefore, we typically do not fund individuals who are serving in administrative roles, or projects for debt relief, land or building purchases. Priority will be given to proposals that have reduced administrative fees.
4. The M25 Initiative developed from the Cumberland County Code Blue Program that demonstrated tremendous success in working with other churches & non-profits in meeting the needs of the community. Therefore, we will give priority to projects that meet community needs through community partnerships. Proposals should identify partner agencies with supporting documentation (e.g. letter of intent to partner).
5. Organizations must be willing to invest financially in a project for the M25 Initiative to consider funding that project. We do not consider in-kind contributions alone as local faith-based/non-profit organization financial support.
LOCATION
31 N. Pearl Street
Bridgeton, NJ 08302 |
OUR MISSION"The M25 Initiative is a 501c3 non-profit in Cumberland County, NJ created for the sole purpose of engaging, equipping, empowering, and mobilizing individuals and organizations to employ innovative and cooperative solutions to alleviate suffering, feed the hungry, end poverty, reduce crime, revitalize a spirit of community and transform lives!"
Phone: 1-844-M25-HOPE 
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