Specifications include, but are not limited to: Program Activities PPs shall include the Organization’s BHBH program activities. Innovative and creative bridge housing models using existing real estate that can be leased as is or quickly renovated/converted to new BHBH Program settings are encouraged. All must include supportive services for participants. For clients linked to BHS outpatient mental health treatment services, BHBH program will coordinate with BHS contracted providers to provide housing navigation and participant assistance funds. The BHBH organizations will have access to BHBH special funding for participant assistance, rental assistance, and/or landlord outreach and mitigation. PPs shall describe their program’s model that includes but not limited to these minimum program elements and activity types: 1. Bridge Housing Start-Up Infrastructure a. BHBH Program funding can be used for start-up costs to acquire/develop new interim housing inventory including but not limited to: master leasing all or some of a complex, scatter site rental homes, purchasing existing housing inventory, renovating existing owned properties, tiny homes, RV/mobile home/motorhome park, providing short or mid-term rental assistance, or for recruiting other housing entities to shift to interim homeless housing, including supplemental funding for board and care. Creative and practical solutions are encouraged. b. The infrastructure development must be completed, and bridge housing beds must go live by January 26, 2025. Timeliness benchmarks must be met to avoid funding reversion. 2. BHBH Program Implementation a. In coordination with Sacramento County, solicit input from people with lived experience of homelessness, SMI, and SUD, when developing programming, implementation, and service provision. b. Coordinate with local Continuum of Care (CoC), other stakeholders and housing partners. c. Actively participate in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). d. Submit required reports. 3. Operation of Bridge Housing and Support Services a. Activities and requirements: i. Sustain positive, responsive, working relationships with HEART, mental health contractors, Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Services (SUPT) contractors, CARE Court, housing inventory partners (if applicable), oversee bridge housing operations/maintenance, and pay for all project costs in a timely manner that maintains safe interim housing and meets the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Minimum Habitability Standards and County of Sacramento Good Neighbor Policy. ii. BHBH Program will utilize site based, multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) to serve their bridge housing residents during regular business hours. iii. BHBH Program will coordinate with BHS contracted provider for 24/7 crisis response to avoid negative program exits. iv. MDTs will include care coordination to improve mental/physical health, build life skills, increase income, and develop vocational/education access and skills. Partners may include County agencies like Primary Care for medical support, DHA for applicable benefits, etc. b. Ongoing services and supports: i. At the end of the grant term, BHBH Program will help individuals that have not been able to move onto permanent housing by leveraging other available funding resources for participant assistance funds and/or rental assistance to help with accessing sustainable supports. ii. Provide bridge housing and supportive services including barrier busting activities to help participants obtain and maintain housing. Provide housing navigation services and supports to BHBH Program participants who may exit BHS programming that offers housing navigation or who initially agreed to the requirement for linkage to Sacramento County BHS but rescinded their agreement post entry. iii. Support and coordinate access to behavioral health services necessary to help program participants manage symptoms of serious behavioral health conditions, and support recovery and wellness by utilizing and coordinating with current Sacramento County Mental Health Plan and/or SUPT providers.
