Request for Proposal (RFP): Supportive Housing Providers in Ohio

CSH is currently seeking proposals from Columbus/Franklin County only. Incorporated nonprofits and 501(c) (3) organizations can apply independently or with another nonprofit. CSH encourages partnerships among organizations, with one serving as the contracting entity.

History of Program

In 2007, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) and CSH introduced a pilot supportive housing initiative called Returning Home Ohio (RHO) to serve individuals with a disability being released from state correctional institutions experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. The initiative used supportive housing to prevent homelessness and reduce recidivism for individuals returning to Ohio's communities.

Through the initiative, ODRC and CSH selected several nonprofit organizations to demonstrate how supportive housing can reduce an offender’s return to the criminal justice system and prevent homelessness. During the pilot, an evaluation was completed, which ended June 30, 2012. A two-page executive summary of the evaluation is available for review.
On July 1, 2012, RHO became an ongoing program of ODRC.

Current Program Overview

Returning Home Ohio is a permanent supportive housing model offering a cost-effective combination of safe, affordable housing with a range of supportive services that helps participants live stable, independent and healthy lives. Individualized voluntary supportive services are available to each person depending on their strengths, resources, needs, and barriers. Each participant has a unique supportive services plan with goals that focus on self-sufficiency and housing stability. Linkages and partnerships with local resources and community organizations, such as housing authorities, material assistance providers, mental health agencies, etc can provide options for services and continued rental subsidies.

Special Conditions

The budget for this request is $215,000. Responses to this RFP are specific to services in Franklin County/Columbus, Ohio. The organization chosen will replace YMCA of Central Ohio, which is currently running a single site RHO program and moving out of its location. The YMCA has been a dedicated RHO partner since the program's inception. The total number of units contracted will depend on the budget configuration determined by the applicant. The organization must be able to fully transition the program by July 1, 2022, and work collaboratively with the YMCA until all clients are transferred.

Each applicant must be able to:

  • Understand and effectively respond to the population's diverse needs.
  • Conduct outreach to ODRC institutions and within the local Continuum of Care and homeless provider agencies to identify and assess eligible offenders and determine the offender’s compatibility with the organization’s program.
  • Offer voluntary supportive services and partner with community agencies to develop a comprehensive array of supportive services.
  • Provide housing options that meet housing quality standards and access to appropriate amenities.
  • Demonstrate relationships with private landlords that are willing to serve the target population.
  • Provide qualified staff and supervision to mediate tenant-landlord disputes, problem-solve, inspect units, and work in a team approach with recovery services staff.
  • Provide and retain detailed financial accounting of payments issued and retain documentation of client eligibility and housing unit eligibility.
  • Provide necessary transition services to current RHO tenants being served through the YMCA.
  • Plan and coordinate the transition of current RHO tenants effectively and efficiently with the YMCA, ensuring the least amount of impact to the tenants.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

  • Applicants should submit a full proposal (Narrative, Program Capacity, and Proposed Budget) electronically.
  • CSH must receive proposals and all attachments via email by Monday, April 18, 2022, by 4:00 p.m. EST.
  • The full proposal should be sent to Terri D. Power at terri.power@csh.org.

Opening New Doors - Virtual Supportive Housing Institute Request for Proposals (RFP)

Thanks to the generous support of the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing, CSH is excited to announce its Opening New Door Institute (“The Institute”).

2021 presents a unique and important moment to pursue supportive housing development. The combined public health and economic crisis that hit the country last year both elevated the urgency of responding to homelessness, and ushered in a new set of federal funding and legislative actions aimed at creating more housing in our communities. No development, however, is easy, and supportive housing development requires additional preparation and strategy to turn good ideas into successful funding applications.

CSH’s Institute will help teams build their knowledge base and ability to secure the necessary funding and long-term commitments necessary to create quality supportive housing.

The 2021 Institute will be held primarily remotely, with an in-person finale to be held in January 2022 in Columbus.

Organizations interested in creating supportive housing for the following priority populations are encouraged to apply:

  • persons experiencing chronic homelessness,
  • persons who are prioritized for supportive housing by local Continuum of Care (CoC), Mental Health and Addiction Services Boards,
  • persons at risk of long-term homelessness with behavioral health challenges exiting incarceration and/or trafficking and exploitation,
  • young people who experience homelessness and are prioritized by their local CoC for supportive housing,
  • Families facing separation due to child welfare involvement,
  • and those with a combination of physical health and behavioral health challenges leading to frequent hospitalizations.

This training series will help supportive housing partners learn how to navigate the complex process of developing housing with supportive services and is expected to reduce the time it takes to obtain funding for supportive housing by improving the planning and development process.

The Institute has a strong track record in Ohio, with graduates experiencing an 80% success rate in bringing projects into operation. The Institute will provide targeted training, technical assistance, and pre-development financing (subject to availability) to both new and experienced development teams. Teams receive more than 60 hours of training including individualized technical assistance and resources to assist in completing their project.

In addition, experts from across the state, including staff from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) and national partners, provide insight on property management, financing, and building design.

The 2021 Institute is made possible by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing.

Institute Benefits


Upon completion, participants in the Institute will have:
- A detailed, individualized supportive housing plan that can be used to apply for funding from multiple sources;
- The opportunity to apply for early pre-development financing through the CSH Pre-development Initiation Loan to use on supportive housing projects planned through the Institute;
- Improved skills to operate existing supportive housing and develop new projects serving people who experience multiple barriers to housing;
- New and improved skills to operate integrated supportive housing;
- A strong, effective development, property management and service team that leverages the strengths of each team member;
- A powerful network of peers and experts to assist in project development and to trouble-shoot problems; and,
- Post institute technical assistance from CSH to be defined through a shared Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Institute Deliverables


In the course of the Supportive Housing Institute, teams will work to develop individual supportive housing project plans. Among the expected team deliverables are:
• Memorandum of Understanding among members of the supportive housing development team, outlining the roles and responsibilities of each partner;
• Community support plan;
• Detailed service delivery plan for specific target populations;
• Outreach, Engagement and Tenant selection plans;
• Tenant Leadership plan;
• Management plan;
• Operating policies and protocols between services provider and property manager;
• Preliminary project proposal and budgets; and
- Preliminary feasibility analysis for potential housing site, if identified.

Target Populations - Must identify one primary population

  • Persons experiencing chronic homelessness,
  • Persons who are prioritized for supportive housing by local Continuum of Care (CoC), Mental Health and Addiction Services Boards,
  • Persons at risk of long-term homelessness with behavioral health challenges exiting incarceration and/or trafficking and exploitation,
  • Young people who experience homelessness and are prioritized by their local CoC for supportive housing,
  • Families facing separation due to child welfare involvement, or otherwise identified with high service and housing needs, and
  • Those with a combination of physical health and behavioral health challenges leading to frequent hospitalizations.

Eligible Teams

Eligible teams should include a designated team leader, a housing development/owner partner, a public housing authority representative, a supportive service provider partner, and a property management partner. If you are missing one of these players, please reach out to CSH for assistance. The designated team leader may be the development/owner, service, or property management partner.

Developer must have experience with affordable housing. Teams are invited to bring five members to each Institute session. Additional team members may include, but are not limited to local city development staff or local housing authority staff or CoC representative.

To be eligible for the Institute, teams must be able to commit to attending to all required training sessions offered (see training timeline); and, commit to taking project concept from idea to completion with the goal of having supportive housing units placed in service.

Eligible Supportive Housing Projects
- Minimum project size for housing in this institute is 10 units of supportive housing;
- Housing is permanent and affordable where tenants hold leases and acceptance of services is not a condition of occupancy;
- Comprehensive case management services are accessible by tenants where they live and, in a manner, designed to maximize tenant stability and self-sufficiency;
- The housing development may be either 50%+ supportive housing or integrated supportive housing where 25% of the total units (with a minimum total of 40 units of which 10 are SH) are made available to one or more of the target populations; and,
- The supportive housing development and/or integrated supportive housing must participate in the Continuum of Care Coordinated Assessment/Access system.

Proposals to develop Recovery Housing, emergency shelters, transitional or shared housing, such as group homes or shared apartments, will NOT be considered.


In order for CSH and its partners to provide an appropriate level of technical assistance, the 2021 institute will be limited to up to 8 teams. Consideration will be given to demonstrated need, support from the local unit of government, financial stability of the primary sponsor, quality of the response to the application and alignment with this RFP and coordination with CoC housing inventory and priorities. Selection will also be made on how well applicants align their projects with the strategies and goals outlined in the State of Ohio’s Blueprint for Change: Aligning Resources with Results. https://development.ohio.gov/cs/cs_hhc.htm

To be eligible for the Institute, applicants must be able to commit to attending ALL training sessions offered for the respective track selected. It is critical to the success of each team that key senior management staff consistently participates in all sessions. Training sessions will consist of approximately 60 hours in two-day sessions per month over five months. A $500 registration fee is required upon acceptance, payable to CSH before the start of the first session.

CSH Opening New Doors Institute Curriculum and Timeline

Timeline/Location

Note: Order and Topics may change and teams will be notified of the final agenda. All sessions will be virtual thru Zoom. The Finale may be in person in Columbus. All Sessions will begin at 10:00 AM and end by 4:00 PM. There will be ample breaks and dedicated team time.

Aug 31 & Sept 1Session 1: Overview of the Institute; Introduction to Supportive Housing; Racial Equity; Design Considerations; Building Community Support 
Sept 28-29Session 2: Dimensions of Quality; Harm Reduction; Assertive Engagement; Peer Support; Service Plans
Oct 26-27Session 3:  Budgets: Service, Capital and Operating; Understanding Low Income Housing Tax Credits and Partnerships, Introduction to Public Housing Authorities and Project Based Vouchers
Nov 30-Dec 1Session 4: Coordinated Entry; Fair Housing, Eviction Prevention; Coordinating Services and Property Management
Jan 11 & 12Session 5: Putting it All Together; Challenges, Expectations and Readiness to Proceed   
Jan 18Finale Event: Teams present final project concepts to peers and potential funders. 

Topics may change based on final team selection

Application Instructions

Application Deadline: Friday August 13th 2021 by 5:00 pm EST

The Application Review Team will evaluate all proposals and notify applicants of their selection by Friday August 20th, 2021.  Submission of an application represents a commitment for the team to attend all institute sessions.   The application must be completed in its entirety.  Incomplete applications will not be considered.  The application is available below.

Click here for the full application

Glossary

Chronic Homelessness: An individual or family with a disabling condition who has been continuously homeless for a year or more or has had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years.

Continuum of Care: The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program is designed to promote community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, and State and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless individuals, families, and communities by homelessness; promote access to and effective utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families; and optimize self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Ohio has 9 CoCs: Cincinnati/Hamilton County, Columbus/Franklin County, Cleveland/Cuyahoga County, Akron/Summit County, Dayton/Montgomery County, Toledo/Lucas County, Youngstown/Mahoning County, Canton/Stark County, and Balance of State.

Coordinated Assessment/Access System: Centralized or coordinated assessment/access system is a centralized or coordinated process designed to facilitate program participant intake, assessment, and provision of referrals. A centralized or coordinated assessment system covers the geographic area, is easily accessed by individuals and families seeking housing or services, is well advertised, and includes a comprehensive and standardized assessment tool. This definition establishes basic minimum requirements for the Continuum’s centralized or coordinated assessment system. Coordinated Assessment/Access is a system in which all programs within a CoC work together to assure that services are accessible and properly directed to the immediate needs of the client. It represents a national standard to help move programs such as shelter, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, and supportive housing, toward aligning eligibility criteria and services into a coherent and accessible system for people in crisis.

Data Sources: In describing community need, data sources should include CoC Point in Time Count, CoC Annual Homeless Assessment Report, Homeless Management Information System and/or CoC Housing Inventory Chart.

Integrated Supportive Housing: This model generally refers to market-rate or affordable rental developments that have a dedicated percentage of subsidized units that provide housing to formerly homeless families or individuals. Project-based vouchers are the primary source of subsidy used in integrated supportive housing.  For the purpose of this RFP, integrated is defined as no more than 25% of the units set-aside for supportive housing with a minimum of 40 total units and 10 supportive units. 

Single Site Supportive Housing: This is generally an apartment building that exclusively provides housing to formerly homeless families or individuals. Project-based vouchers are the primary source of subsidy used in single site housing, which is generally owned by nonprofit landlords.  Focus is placed on helping tenants integrate into the surrounding community.

Supportive Housing: Supportive housing combines permanent, affordable housing with services that help people live more stable, productive lives. Supportive housing is developed by packaging together housing that is affordable to persons with very low or extremely low incomes with flexible supportive services that are designed to meet the special needs of an individual or family. When targeted effectively, supportive housing can be cost-effective for communities. Creating supportive housing involves partnerships and collaboration. Supportive Housing is developed for people who but for housing could not access services and but for services could not maintain housing.

Team Leader: The person who commits to taking a lead role in managing the team from concept development through lease-up of the supportive housing units. This person should be detail oriented and have a strong commitment to this project.  The team leader is responsible for ensuring that team members attend and participate in institute sessions and complete homework assignments.  The team leader is also responsible for finalizing MOUs among team partners and taking information back to any key local partners.

Vulnerable Persons: Each Continuum of Care utilizes a Coordinated Assessment to determine those most vulnerable and prioritized for supportive housing. In some communities, local Mental Health and Addictions Services boards also have an assessment process to prioritize individuals and families for limited housing resources. Vulnerable persons refers to the agreed upon vulnerability determination utilized by the Continuum and/or local Mental Health and Addictions Services board.

Housing First Fidelity Training

CSH Makes Housing First Training Available in Ohio 

CSH in Ohio has launched a two-day training session on what it means to practice high fidelity Housing First practices. Using the Housing First Fidelity Index developed by Dennis Watson and Valery Shuman, CSH and local partners explore the “why’s” and “how’s” of effective Housing First practices.

The training is designed through both a system and programmatic lens, complete with exercises and practice tips to help lo236_Vets-Training-1024x768cal systems adhere more closely to the principles that make Housing First an evidence-based practice. The training has been conducted in seven communities so far and will be rolled out in several other locations in early 2017.

Have an interest in learning more?

 

Please see the sample program schedule below and contact Katie Kitchen at katie.kitchin@csh.org for detailed information. Dates for additional training sessions will be shared soon. Note that there will be some pre-work required in order to make the most of the workshop and to ensure that the training offers tactical strategies for participants to put into practice right away. 

Sample Training Program Schedule

Day One: 10:00-4:30

Housing First Fidelity: Using the Housing First Fidelity Index scale developed by Dennis Watson with the School of Public Health at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and Valery Shuman with the Midwest Harm Reduction Institute, participants take a deep dive into what it means to operate a Housing First program to the highest degree of fidelity possible, and when not possible, how to mediate for adaptations. A self-assessment is conducted in advance of the workshop (the results do not need to be shared outside the organization), that helps participants focus in on areas that require more attention. Participants interact with training materials, case studies, and small group work that improve understanding of the 29 metrics found by Watson to be most closely linked to achieving the outcomes associated with high fidelity Housing First.

Day Two: 8:30 - 12:30

Property Management and Service Coordination: from project design to lease up, through to eviction prevention, we discuss the separate and distinct roles of property management and services and the overlapping areas that require thoughtful communication and collaboration. We review eviction prevention strategies and policies that can reduce the impact of negative turnovers.

Ohio Statewide Homelessness Study

CSH Ohio and Barbara Poppe and Associates, with support from The Ohio Development Services Agency and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, collected data and input from stakeholders to help lay the groundwork for a Statewide Plan to End Homelessness. This took place in several communities between June and August of 2016. Please click here to learn more about the purpose, background, project overview and scope of work.

We invite you to review the Best Practices Presentation to view strategies utilized to end chronic and Veteran homelessness as well as innovations to significantly reduce family homelessness. This presentation also addresses best practices in service models, program models, and community engagement.

Please view the Ohio Community Data Snapshot to learn more about national and state trends and profiles of various populations.

New Supportive Housing Opens in Steubenville, OH

Families and individuals who once were facing homelessness now have a place to call home at The Lighthouse Haven  in Steubenville. With one, two and three bedroom apartments this supportive housing development offers a chance at stability through services available to its residents. 

305_Lighthouse Kitchen_16Jefferson Behavioral Health System, the sponsor of this project, successfully led a development team through the CSH Supportive Housing Institute. The institute consists of six months of training and technical support with CSH staff and supportive housing experts with the goal of creating quality supportive housing projects throughout the state.

CSH also provided a $50,000 Predevelopment Initiation Loan to help Lighthouse Haven go from concept to reality with often hard to secure early stage financing.

Funding for Lighthouse Have was provided by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, Department of Mental Health, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati.

Click here to view additional local coverage in preparation for the grand opening.

Non-Time Limited Supportive Housing Program for Youth

Request for Proposals for Supportive Housing Providers (RFP)


CSH and the Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS) seek to pilot the effectiveness of a non-time limited supportive housing program for youth (ages 18-19) exiting DYS facilities in Hamilton and Cuyahoga Counties in order to prevent recidivism.  The pilot program will offer twelve (12) units of supportive housing in each of the two communities, for a total of 24 units of housing.

Target Population
The target population for the DYS Pilot is criminal justice involved young adults released from DYS institutions who are identified as homeless or at risk of homelessness upon release and fall into one of 2 categories: 1) Severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) with or without a co-occurring disorder; 2) a lack of employment history and positive social supports.  Referrals can be accepted for an offender up to 12 months post release. Priority is given to offenders identified as being most likely to require supportive services in order to maintain housing and stability.

Click here to view the RFP.

Click here to view the Annual Budget Form.

Proposals must be submitted by Friday, June 3rd by 5:00pm EST to Katie.kitchin@csh.org.

Ohio Institute Finale

The Supportive Housing Institute in Ohio brought together teams from across the state to learn about creating and operating quality supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness, those prioritized by local Continua of Care and Mental Health and Addiction Service Boards, and adults with developmental disabilities transitioning from institutional settings.

This series helped teams navigate the complex process of developing housing with support services and concluded in January with a finale event that included a presentation by each of the participating teams.

Teams

300_SteeleValley_16The Youngstown team includes the Help Hotline, Crisis Center, Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board, CSN, a part of North Coast Behavioral Health Care, Meridian Community Care, and Flying High Inc. Their project proposal is for a 15 unit development made up of one-bedroom apartments for frequent/super utilizers of hospitals.

The Cherry Court Campus team hails from Canton and includes ICAN Housing, Coleman Professional Services, and the Recovery Board of Stark County. This team is working on the design of a new construction development including 14 one-bedroom units and 10 studio units on two adjacent lots with a central park and urban farm.

Gallia County Children’s Home plans to develop 8 one-bedroom units and 4 two-bedroom units as a gut rehab project for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and impacted by mental health conditions.

305_Akron_16The Stoney Point Commons team from Akron is made up of Stock Tober Development, NCR, and Community Support services, along with development consultant John Stock and supportive housing consultant Ted Jones. They have proposed a 68 unit development targeting people facing homelessness including those experiencing chronic homelessness.

The Archives Apartments proposal out of Cleveland is a collaboration between Testa Companies, Welcome House, Inc., and EDEN. This team is working towards applying for funding for a gut rehabilitation project of 24 one-bedroom units for people with developmental disabilities coming out of foster care with one unit for a live-in manager to oversee the two buildings. The adjacent structure will be developed into commercial space and 4 market rate units.

300_BuckUps_16The team from Dayton includes Foundation for the Challenges, UP Development, and the Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities. This development team plans to create a 40 unit single-site building with a 25% set aside for adults with developmental disabilities. Other target populations include people experiencing chronic homelessness and adults with mental health and substance use conditions.

The Muskingum team from Zanesville includes Muskingum Economic Opportunity action Group Inc., Muskingum Behavioral Health, and Fairfield Homes. Their project is a 32 unit single site apartment complex targeting people with substance use disorders, and will be located near downtown Zanesville.

The development team from Mansfield, OH includes Trek Development Group, Mary McCloud Bethune Intervention and Enrichment Center, and the VA. Future projects will include creating scattered site townhomes as well as Veteran focused affordable and supportive housing.

300_MudHens_16The Lincoln Place team from Toledo consists of TASC of North West Ohio, Gould Development and PHRL Development. Lincoln place will include 60 one-bedroom units in a single site project in Central Toledo. The target populations include those exiting the criminal justice system with great barriers sand people facing chronic homelessness with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.

 

Sponsor

The Institute is made possible by the support received from the Ohio Housing Finance agency, Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing.

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Upcoming Training Sessions in Ohio

In-Person Trainings to Help Strengthen Your Funding Applications & Community Engagement

CSH is offering a number of trainings in 2016 to help your organization develop, manage, and provide quality supportive housing in Ohio.

Trainings will guide potential applicants on submitting successful housing funding applications and cover the Six Steps to Community Engagement. Trainings are FREE, generously sponsored by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services with support from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency.

Because these are free, space is limited. If you are interested in attending follow these instructions on how you can access our Supportive Housing Training Center to register. For content or logistical questions please contact Leah Werner at 614.228.6263 Ext 224 or leah.werner@csh.org .

All trainings will be held in Columbus, Ohio

Franklin Station - 524 West Broad Street Columbus Ohio 43215.
Free parking behind the building.
Free Lunch Provided


Funding Application Training

Wednesday, May, 25
Ohio Housing Finance Agency Housing Development Gap Financing

In April and June, CSH will offer practical, hands-on trainings to a small group of organizations that intend to apply to the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Cincinnati and the Ohio Housing Finance Agency for funding to create supportive housing.

Mary Hernandez, the manager of FHLB's Affordable Housing Program, will be in attendance to elaborate on the "how to’s" of the online application. The trainings will focus on creating competitive applications.


 

Community Engagement

Wednesday, June 29
Community Engagement and the Six Steps

Developers face increasing challenges when creating affordable housing. NIMBYism can negatively impact costs and actually derail sound projects. The Six Steps to Community Engagement training was originally produced for developers of homeless housing and services, and designed to respond to both the uniquely local aspect of each proposal and generic obstacles (i.e. similar concerns raised in nearly every case). Over time, it has proven to be an effective strategy to engage the community in constructive dialogue about proposed development projects.

The Six Steps encourages housing providers to conduct a “due diligence” process early in development planning to gather information, consider options and make informed, deliberate decisions about what actions to take with respect to local government, community groups and the media. CSH’s training helps developers understand the practical uses of the Six Steps to reduce potential delays and costs that may result from local opposition.

In-House Employment Resource Toolkit

OHIOCSH, in partnership with Barbara Poppe, Poppe and associates, has developed an In-House Employment Resource Toolkit for the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. In addition to the important introduction to the In-House Employment resource document,  the toolkit includes valuable materials designed to help housing and service providers develop or enhance their in- house hiring practices.

Access the complete In-House Employment Resource Toolkit by clicking here.

 

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