Specifications include, but are not limited to: The County of Hennepin, State of Minnesota (“County”) is soliciting proposals for Winter Warming CenterServices for the Housing Stability service area of Hennepin County Health and Human ServicesDepartmentEvery year in Minnesota, from mid-November to early April, the temperature drops to 32 degrees orbelow with multiple days colder than 0 degrees. Year-round, Hennepin County has single adultsexperiencing homelessness who are sleeping and/or spending time outside, with over 750 single adultsstaying in shelter every night. During the coldest months, Hennepin County’s homeless service systemsees an uptick in shelter use and drop-in center visits. In an effort to meet the increased need experiencedthis past winter of 2022-2023, Hennepin County shelters and drop-in centers added 50 additionalovernight shelter beds and 25 spots in an overnight warming center.This Request for Proposals (RFP) provides for one-time funding to provide operational support foradditional nighttime and daytime warming centers to be operated during the 2023-2024 winter season,which is defined as approximately November 15, 2023, through April 15, 2024, regardless of thetemperature. Funding these warming centers is a critical component of Hennepin County’s commitmentto advancing equitable homelessness recovery strategies. These warming centers will provide much needed low-barrier access to shelter for homeless individuals, and this availability helps ensure that homeless individuals have access to shelter 24/7. The availability of nighttime and daytime warming centers is also believed to reduce pressure on other public services, particularly police calls and emergency room visits.
