City of Albuquerque: Social Services and Emergency Housing Services

The City of Albuquerque is focused on improving the well-being of all people and has identified racial equity as a priority goal to address longstanding, racially disparate economic and social outcomes.The City has established priorities for funding and they include the following goals:

Goal 1: Human and Family Development: People of all ages have the opportunity to participate in the community and economy and are well sheltered, safe, healthy, and educated
Goal 2: Public Safety: The public is safe and secure, and shares responsibility for maintaining a safe environment

The City will provide support for the implementation of a Housing First Permanent Supportive Housing Program for households experiencing chronic homelessness. Services must include, but not be limited to:

1. Providing rental assistance to eligible households
2. Making case management services available to all program participants, in order to help participants access needed services, including but not limited to health care, job placement/job training services, life skills training, income support services, child care services, and behavioral health services
3. Entering complete and accurate data in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) in accordance with existing HMIS standards in a timely manner

The proposed project may be required to work collaboratively with other entities as identified and requested by the City. Initially, applicants are required to detail how they will collaborate with the City’s Westside Emergency Housing Center to ensure that emergency housing residents have access to the services described in the proposal.

Priorities are to fund projects that lead to improved outcomes to:

1. Increase Behavioral Health Stability: People who have otherwise experienced substance use and/or mental health disorders are actively engaged in services that address their identified needs and have reduced or eliminated the utilization of crisis services, are able to maintain employment, and have increased daily functioning in the community and at home.
2. Increase Housing Stability: People who have otherwise been precariously housed or experienced homelessness maintain residence in a safe and affordable dwelling.
3. Increase Public Safety: Through engaging in prevention and intervention programs, participants gain skills, knowledge, and support in order to reduce the incidence of violence and adult and/or juvenile criminal justice system involvement.
4. Increase Individual and Family Resilience: Individual and family resilience refers to the functioning of the individual/family system in dealing with adversity. The individual/family becomes able to withstand and rebound from disruptive life challenges, becomes strengthened, and becomes more resourceful.
5. Seniors are Able to Age with Dignity: Vulnerable seniors access and utilize the appropriate care and support resources of their choice so they can age in place and maintain health, safety, independence, and dignity. Seniors maintain connection to their community and access services that support their health and well-being.

In addition, there is a priority to fund projects that address the Social Determinants of Health to achieve greater well-being and equity for all. Substantial evidence confirms the link between social, economic, and physical conditions and health outcome disparities. Social Determinants of Health include access to healthcare services, availability of services to support housing and behavioral health stability, lifelong education options, public safety, and social services. Entities contracting with the City may be expected to collect Social Determinants of Health data in a uniform manner to inform the City and public on unmet needs that need attention and aggregate progress of city-funded services.

The City is dedicated to helping all residents and neighborhoods to be their best selves. Contractors will be expected to engage with the community and build productive relationships with their neighbors as they provide services to improve outcomes for all of Albuquerque. Examples include, but are not limited to, joining the local Neighborhood Association, updating neighbors on services and progress, maintaining their surroundings as clean and litter free, reminding participants to maintain respect of the neighborhood, and promptly responding to any 311 inquiries.

Amount: Up to $1,909,958 is available.

Eligibility: An agency which is a unit of state or local government and/or an agency currently incorporated as a nonprofit corporation, duly registered and in good standing with the State of New Mexico Secretary of State, which has not-for-profit status under 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Code, and which has demonstrated capability in providing the services for which it is applying.

Link: https://www.cabq.gov/family/partner-resources/request-for-proposals

Note: Complete copies of the Request for Proposal (RFP) packets will be available through Wednesday, December 18, 2019, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., at the City of Albuquerque, Department of Family and Community Services, 5th floor, Room 504, Old City Hall, One Civic Plaza, Albuquerque, NM 87102.

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