• To encourage greater interest and equitable opportunity in the use of State-owned shelters, an on-site inspection will now be integrated into the orientation process. This hands-on walkthrough will provide potential applicants with a clear understanding of site conditions and available infrastructure. The enhanced transparency is designed to create a more competitive and inclusive application process, support the development of informed proposals, and result in awarding site control to the most qualified agencies. • A standardized HPO Data Sheet for State-owned shelters will be included in the Request for Proposals (RFP) to support informed decision-making during the application process. • Under this procurement, transitional shelters and bridge housing will no longer be supported, as the focus shifts toward more permanent and sustainable housing solutions. • Shelters may collect program fees of up to 30% of a household’s gross income. A maximum cap will not be imposed. • Shelters shall serve as access points into the local Coordinated Entry System (CES) and provide the following: 1. Standardized Homeless Verification Letters; 2. Complete a survey or triage tool as identified by the local Continuum of Care (CoC) for all households to determine risk and prioritization for the CES; and 3. Assistance to become document ready. Documents may include birth certificates, social security cards, identification cards, and verifying disabling conditions and chronicity for chronic homeless households. • Services shall be provided in a manner that is consistent with Housing First (HF) approach. Only staff roles that align with this model will be eligible for funding. • Shelters shall use a low barrier approach to admissions and shall not have pre-conditions for entry such as program fees, sobriety or completion of a treatment program and shall not solely deny entry into its program based on any previous discharge. • Shelters shall request approval from HPO to ban any Participant from entering the shelter and/or from receiving continued services. • Shelter staff shall be trained in and utilize assertive engagement, harm reduction, and trauma informed care practices. • Shelters shall submit its vacancies to HPO by 9:00 a.m. daily excluding weekends and holidays. • Shelters must be accessible to participants twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week. • Shelters will use the Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (SPDAT) for both initial and ongoing participant assessments to identify and address service needs. • Shelters shall develop housing plans using a standardized template based on information obtained from SPDAT. • Shelters shall develop expectations for participants instead of program or house rules. • Performance Measure and Outcomes will be data driven, negotiated, and approved by HPO using Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI). • Heightened monitoring shall be conducted when CQI efforts fail to bring provider’s performance to a professional standard, as determined by HPO, or when a safety issue requires immediate attention.
