Request for Proposals (RFP)
Overview
The goal of this initiative is to develop, test, or deploy technological innovations that improve the supportive housing environment and outcomes for tenants.
Supportive housing partners across the country are using technology in a variety of ways, including remote health monitoring, tracking program and participant outcomes, reducing isolation, improving building efficiency, and increasing safety. Technological innovations, particularly those that incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) are seemingly everywhere, yet without dedicated resources and intentional integration efforts, the supportive housing industry risks lagging behind in adopting tools that could meaningfully improve systems, services, and tenant experiences.
CSH seeks to provide seed funding and/or offset staffing costs to devote to technology enhancements that would accomplish one or more of the following objectives:
- Improve the health and wellbeing of supportive housing tenants.
Example (illustrative only): Funding staff to explore, train on, or purchase tools that expedite claims processing through AI transcription and automated coding.
- Enhance the tenant experience in supportive housing.
Example: Host a tenant portal for document storage that promotes continuous eligibility in Medicaid, and/or allows tenants access to service plans, case notes, or referrals to external providers.
- Facilitate homeless system improvements.
Example: A Continuum of Care (CoC) requesting funding for HMIS enhancements to expedite referrals to fill supportive housing vacancies; technical assistance to support data governance policy changes that enhance technology adoption; or integration of case management software systems with HMIS to reduce duplicative data entry.
- Optimize supportive housing organizations.
As AI enhancements offer tools to make workflows more efficient, funds could support staff time to identify what business processes could be automated and explore tools on the market to improve business practices.
Background
In February, CSH convened a group of partners to identify promising practices in deploying technological innovations that improve the supportive housing environment. The convening surfaced a range of current use cases and highlighted many opportunities for further exploration.
A summary of our Convening is linked here.
Building on this initial inquiry, CSH is now providing small grants to organizations that will help us learn more about implementing technology and advance the field’s adoption of helpful practices or tools. Grants are open to all supportive housing partners and will be for projects that can be completed within a roughly six-month period.
Award Details
Up to four applicants will be selected to receive an award ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 for a six-month period of performance. Award amounts will be determined based on proposed pilot impact, needs, and available resources.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria to be considered for funding:
- Eligible applicants include supportive housing owners, operators, or service providers; or Continuum of Care and/or HMIS lead agencies.
- Healthcare providers may apply only in partnership with a nonprofit organization serving people in supportive housing.
*Innovative partnerships and cross-agency collaborations are appropriate for this pilot project. Please refer to our landscape assessment (linked in the appendix) for examples of potential collaborative partnership models.
Reporting Requirements
CSH requires the following reporting from selected grantees:
- A mid-project progress report identifying implementation progress, barriers encountered, and any needed course corrections.
- A final close-out report describing project outcomes, lessons learned, and plans for sustainability or future implementation.
CSH will provide detailed reporting guidance prior to project initiation.
Application Components
Applicants must submit the following materials:
- Project Description: Briefly describe the following aspects of the proposed project:
- Project title
- Project objective
- Project activities, inputs, and resources required
- Team’s experience with the activities proposed
- Project timeline
- Expected outcomes
- Sustainability plan
- Bios and Organizational Chart: One document containing bios for all team members involved in the pilot project.
- Job Descriptions: If this pilot includes a new position, please include a detailed description of the position.
- Letter of Commitment: A transmittal letter, signed by a person with authority to commit the organization to the proposed activities.
- 501(c)3 Documentation, if applicable.
- Completed Budget Template: Please use this template.
- Budget Narrative
Submission Instructions
Submission Deadline: May 15th, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Applicants must submit full proposals to: [email protected]
For questions, please contact:
- Kim Keaton – [email protected]
- Katie Kitchin – [email protected]
If we receive multiple questions, CSH will publish a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document.
Selection Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria:
a. Experience and Qualifications – 35%
- Demonstrated expertise in your selected focus area(s) and with your chosen sub-population(s), as evidenced by past relevant experience and/or industry recognition.
- Demonstrated expertise of key personnel.
- Understanding of supportive housing and/or homeless systems and technology.
b. Strength of Approach – 40%
- Detailed scope of work, objectives, and timeline.
- Responsiveness to challenges related to technology in the homeless, supportive housing, and/or health care sectors.
- A well-reasoned approach to the scope of work that is likely to achieve project goals and generate actionable learning.
- Demonstrated capacity to successfully execute the proposed approach in line with the project’s goals and monitor program outcomes.
- Ability to sustain the innovation beyond the funding provided by CSH.
c. Budget – 25%
- Inclusion of a detailed budget aligned with proposed activities.
- Budget consistent with the proposed work.
- Reasonable and appropriate staff compensation, where applicable.
Notification of Selection and Timeline
- RFP Open for submissions: April 22, 2026
- Application submission deadline: May 15, 2026
- Awards determined & applicants notified: May 31, 2026
- Pilot period begins: June 30, 2026
- Pilot period concludes: January 15, 2027
Please note that CSH requires subcontractors, including individuals and sole proprietors, to carry workers’ compensation insurance and general liability insurance while performing work under a CSH subcontract. CSH subcontractors cannot have existing, pending or expired debarments that preclude them from doing business with the United States government and cannot have convictions for, nor have any pending indictments for, fraud or a criminal offense in connection with a public contract or subcontract.