This Request for Proposals has closed.
Thank you to all the applicants. We aim to contact you by mid-February about the status of your application.

Note: This RFP is independent of staffing at the Comfort Hotel site.

 

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS:

ENDING HOMELESSNESS IN ST. JOHN’S THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED HOUSING SUPPORTS

End Homelessness St. John’s (EHSJ) is the Community Entity (CE) for St. John’s as per Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy. EHSJ is accepting proposals from organizations interested in ending homelessness in our community for the period of 2024-25 with possibility of extension.

ABOUT THIS RFP

This Request for Proposals (RFP) seeks to fund housing supports to address the needs of people on the By-Name List of all known people currently experiencing homelessness in St. John’s. In 2023, people experiencing chronic homelessness (see Appendix A: Definitions) are estimated at about 56 to 68% of the total homeless population on the By-Name List, up from about 50% in 2021. Therefore, this RFP seeks to ensure that sufficient housing supports are available to meet the unique needs of people experiencing chronic homelessness, as well as the other mandatory community-level outcomes specified for all Designated Communities funded through Reaching Home.

This RFP extends from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. As per Reaching Home directives, all projects must be completed, and funds spent, by March 31, 2025, with possibility of extension.

Click HERE to watch a recording of the RFP Info Session and Q&A.

 

HOW TO APPLY
To apply to this Request for Proposals, please follow these steps:

  1. Fill out this Application Form via the link above.
  2. Click “Submit” button at the end of the Application Form to complete your Application before the deadline of Monday, January 22, 2024 at 11:59pm.
  3. EHSJ will follow up within two business days with a Declaration page for official signature.


A few notes
• If you wish to review the Application Form questions in their entirety prior to filling out the Application Form itself, please refer to this document (for reference only): Application PDF.


• If you are unable to complete your application in one sitting, you can return to it later. Just “submit” it, and it will give you an option to “save my responses so I can edit later.” EHSJ will follow up with you – if your application is complete, we will send you a Declaration page for official signature.


• The budget is included within the application. There is no separate budget form.


• Your Application Form will be automatically submitted to EHSJ through Microsoft Forms.


If you have questions about this RFP, please submit them via the form below. All questions and answers will be posted on this page.


The deadline for completed applications is Monday, January 22, 2024 at 11:59pm.

 

Q&A

Is there a limit to the number of positions you can apply for?

Proponents can apply for as many positions as they wish.


What is the Total Funding Allotment for this RFP?

EHSJ hasn't confirmed the exact amount to date, but it will be in the same range as previous annual RFP funding ($1.2 million annually). The exact funding allocation will be confirmed upon evaluation of the proposals.


What would you consider to be a successful current RFP Position when reapplying for the New Year?

The important items include the ability to achieve housing outcomes (both finding housing and maintaining housing) and meeting the requirements of the previous RFP - i.e., meeting participants out in community, completing participant move-ins, etc. It is also important to note that there is a significant shift between the last RFP and this one, so proposals must address the key items in this RFP.


Can agencies apply for one position to do both activities? as in both Housing Access and Follow-up Housing Support

Yes, an agency can apply for one position to do both activities. For example, an agency can apply for 0.5 Housing Access and 0.5 Follow-up Housing Support. Please give details as to how you will integrate both activities in one position in order to support participants successfully.

We are exploring applying for several positions in tandem with another organization that we have worked with in the past. Our goal is for one of the secured positions to be awarded to that other organization, but would work alongside the team inside ours. Would this type of application be permitted? Should we apply for all positions under one application, or submit two separate applications?

Thank you for this question as it allows for clarity on how organizations can submit a joint proposal. Yes, that's permitted, and organizations are encouraged to leverage partnerships with other organizations in their proposals. It is recommended to submit two applications, given that each organization should have the opportunity to indicate that they understand the requirements of the project and to provide official organizational details/sign-off on the application. However, for certain questions in the "Project Information" and "Organizational Capacity" sections, feel free to answer them in the first partner's application only, with a note in the second partner's application to refer to the first (or copy/paste the answers).

Are there any mechanisms in place in this new funding round to compensate employee Supervisors within the project? As you can appreciate, the bigger the work tasks that are taken on, the more supervision that could possibly be required.

Organizations are welcome to use the 10% administration fee to compensate supervisors for any additional workload (up to $8,400 per position). In structuring this project and the budget, EHSJ has done its best to ensure that all project costs are covered (mileage, insurance, phones, etc.) This is in part to ensure that proponents are able to allocate the 10% administration fee in a way that best suits their needs (where they are not covered elsewhere). Organizations can also consider a partnership model as a way to share the supervisory workload.

Can a proponent apply for the Building Safer Communities Grant to build affordable housing for those experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness, or a proponent can only apply for the grant to find housing for participants?

The Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF) is administered by the City of St. John's to develop and facilitate a crime and violence strategy in collaboration with community partners and stakeholders. For more information, visit https://www.stjohns.ca/en/city-hall/grants.aspx#Building-Safer-Communities-Grant-Program. There are funding programs to build affordable housing, such as the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) - see https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/professionals/project-funding-and-mortgage-financing/funding-programs/all-funding-programs/rapid-housing. This particular RFP is focused on providing housing supports to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness in St. John's (i.e., staffing to help participants find and maintain housing).

Is this RFP strictly for proponents who will provide housing access and follow-up support for participants on the 'By-Name List' or does it include proponents who will provide housing access and follow-up support for participants who are not on the By-Name List? Our organization would like to provide housing access for families and individuals we know who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness but are undocumented and living 'under the radar' because they are afraid and/or ashamed to reveal their identities due to cultural, religious or immigration-related reasons. Thank you in advance for taking the time to answer or questions.

This is a great question, as it allows us to provide more information on the entire process of accessing supports through Coordinated Access to Homes. The By-Name List is a real-time list of all people experiencing homelessness in a community, and it changes all the time. EHSJ works with community partner organizations to refer people to this list, and we are always interested in adding community partners who encounter people experiencing homelessness in their work. Through our community partners, we provide a range of programs and services to support people experiencing homelessness (for example, case management and supportive housing). Participants fill out a Consent Form and an Intake Form designed by our community to assess needs and identify the most appropriate supports. This information is stored securely and only shared where it is helpful in identifying appropriate supports. So to answer your question – we understand that some people have reasons for not sharing information about their circumstances, including the ones you listed, so participants have the opportunity to decline consent and/or to not answer any questions. Doing so does not stop participants from accessing programs and services, however it may limit our ability to provide further access to all available coordinated services. That said, where possible we encourage participants to share information that helps us better understand the needs of individuals and our communities as we work toward more cultural sensitivity and equity in our system of care.


How do I apply for a continuation of a current staff funded through the previous RFP?

Applicants are welcome to apply for a continuation of current staff, while recognizing that roles and responsibilities have changed. Please ensure that your application clearly identifies positions as "Housing Access" and/or "Follow-up Housing Support" and explains your approach moving forward. As noted in the RFP Guide: Proponents must ensure that positions meet the revised approach of this RFP, whether using existing or new staff. Positions funded through this RFP cannot be perceived as simply an “extension” of the previous positions, because this RFP has distinctly different parameters compared to the previous RFP.