This statement of work (SOW) covers the administration of the Emergency Transitional Housing Shelter Operations Grant (ETH). The Emergency Transitional Housing Shelter Operations Grant is 100% State General Funds. These funds are intended to assist agencies as they serve families and individuals experiencing homelessness through Trauma-Informed Approach program services. Effective October 2018, Executive Order #24 was signed making Delaware a Trauma-Informed State. The purpose of the order is to build resilience in children, adults, and communities who have experienced trauma. Organizations providing Emergency and Transitional Housing Services to adults and children must become trauma aware on how trauma impacts clientele and staff. Awareness should be attained by basic training on trauma and trauma-informed care. Second, organizations must implement trauma-informed approach practices in their policies and procedures which in turn include the processes of outputs and systems made available to clientele and staff (Refer to the Delaware Developmental Framework for Trauma-Informed Care ). The Department is seeking proposals from qualified organizations that operate shelters designed to provide safe, accessible, and supportive emergency housing for individuals experiencing homelessness. A primary goal of this funding is to expand shelter capacity and reduce barriers to entry, ensuring that individuals experiencing homelessness—particularly those with complex needs such as mental health conditions, substance use disorders, or lack of identification—have access to safe, temporary housing. Special consideration will be given to providers addressing youth homelessness in Delaware through trauma-informed services that support pathways to self-sufficiency.
