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Home My WebLink AboutIR 25-0073INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 25-0073 h1%T.ti7e. 4 i { i7 Y Y rFrn 1075 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 3, 2025 Page 1 of 3 SUBJECT: HOMELESS STRATEGIES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS The purpose of this Informal Report is to provide an update on the Request for Proposals (RFP) for Homeless Strategies funding. On January 14, 2025, City Council heard a presentation that included information regarding stakeholder input and how it impacted the upcoming Homeless Strategies RFP. An M&C to execute award agreements with the recommended agencies is planned for the June 10, 2025 City Council agenda. Context: In the fall of 2024, City of Fort Worth Homeless Strategies staff facilitated discussions with approximately 300 local stakeholders from four different groups: City elected officials and staff, homeless service agency staff, neighborhoods/community partners, and individuals who have experienced homelessness. The purpose was to understand the changing landscape of the homeless system in Fort Worth over the past several years as well as priorities for each group. The overwhelming feedback received was that the City should concentrate its resources and efforts on resolving unsheltered homelessness and related issues. Unsheltered homelessness refers to individuals who are both experiencing homelessness and not in a shelter, which includes sleeping outside, in abandoned buildings, under underpasses, in parks, and similar. Re -focused Request for Proposals: Homeless Strategies used this feedback to create an RFP that reflected this priority as well as other homeless system needs. The RFP sought to fund programs which either prioritized or solely served the unsheltered population. Through this reprioritization, three programs that receive funding in Fiscal Year (FY) 25, Rapid Rehousing Case Management, System Data, and Mental Health Services for Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Clients, were not included in this RFP, and the funding for these program categories was reallocated into Flexible Fund Administration and Street Outreach. However, staff identified that Mental Health Services for PSH Clients can be absorbed in the High ImpACT Program and System Data can continue under alternate funding outside of the City. Since the High ImpACT Program is still in pilot stage, it was not part of the RFP. The City Manager's Homeless Strategies Division issued an RFP seeking agencies to: 1. Provide overflow sheltering in cold weather; 2. Provide street outreach services to the unsheltered; 3. Provide critical document services (assistance in obtaining identification documents) to the unsheltered; 4. Provide rapid exit services to employed homeless households; 5. Provide case management to PSH clients; and ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 25-0073 h1%T.ti7e. 4 i { i7 Y Y rFrn 1075 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 3, 2025 Page 2 of 3 SUBJECT: HOMELESS STRATEGIES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS 6. Provide administration of flexible funds used to quickly connect clients with housing through family unification or other one-time assistance. Scoring: Proposals were scored based on the strength of the project description, project experience or training plan, agency financial capacity, and compliance. The RFP was advertised in the Fort Worth Star -Telegram on March 19, 2025. The City also posted the RFP information on the City website. Partnership Home (formerly Tarrant County Homeless Coalition), the lead coordinating agency for all homeless agencies in Tarrant and Parker counties, sent the RFP information to all partner agencies twice. The RFP opened in Neighborly on March 19, 2025 and closed on April 16, 2025. The City received 16 responses. Staff from Homeless Strategies and the Neighborhood Services Department evaluated the proposals and found the below listed agencies to be experienced and well equipped to perform the needed services. The contract for overflow sheltering in cold weather shelter will be awarded at a later time. Staff Recommendations: City staff recommends awarding agreements to the listed agencies in the amounts listed below: Initiative I Description Rapid Exit — Quickly assist 360 employed unsheltered preference households to exit homelessness with one-time financial assistance Critical Document Assist 360 people Services — solely experiencing unsheltered unsheltered homelessness in obtaining identification Case Management for Permanent Supportive Housing Clients - unsheltered preference Provide intensive case management services to at least 175 permanent supportive housing clients Case Management for JProvide intensive case Permanent Supportive Imanagement services to at Agency Presbyterian Night Shelter DRC Solutions My Health, My Resources of Tarrant County DRC Solutions Recommended Funding for FY 26 Up to $1,556,746.00 Up to $150,000.00 Up to $722,143.00 1 Up to $380,132.00 ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 25-0073 h1%T.ti7e. 4 i { i7 Y Y rFrn 1075 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 3, 2025 Page 3 of 3 SUBJECT: HOMELESS STRATEGIES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Housing Clients - least 105 permanent unsheltered preference supportive housing clients Case Management for Permanent Supportive Housing Clients - unsheltered preference Provide intensive case management services to at least 20 permanent supportive housing clients Street Outreach - solely Provide street outreach unsheltered services to those experiencing unsheltered homelessness in coordination with the HOPE Team Flexible Fund Administration - unsheltered preference TOTAL �r flexible funds to service providers the following critical documents, transportation, d weather , cooling station and fees not q housing Presbyterian Night Shelter DRC Solutions Partnership Home Up to $73,702.00 Up to $457,316.00 Up to $500,000.00 Up to $3,840,039.00 For more information, please contact Homeless Strategies Manager Tara Perez at Tara. Perez(a-)fortworthtexas.aov. Jesus "Jay" Chapa City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS