The City of Austin’s Homeless Strategy Office (HSO) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to collaborate with organizations capable of providing resources to individuals and families at risk of or newly experiencing homelessness. The aim of this new contract is to trial homeless diversion programs, which assist individuals and families in avoiding or swiftly exiting homelessness with minimal or no financial aid. The contract is expected to last up to three years.
David Gray, City of Austin Homeless Strategy Officer, stated, “Homeless diversion isn’t merely a momentary intervention; it’s a profound commitment to reshaping the life course of individuals and families.” He further emphasized that by diverting individuals from the cycle of homelessness, there is an investment in restoring hope, cultivating resilience, and creating a more inclusive and compassionate society.
HSO has shown deep commitment towards ending homelessness and has collaborated with community partners to assemble investments across the Homelessness Response System (HRS). An effective HRS deploys diversion programming to promptly end experiences of homelessness for individuals and households. The objective is to assist clients in finding safe alternative housing immediately, avoid stays in shelters, and prevent unsheltered homelessness.
Projects funded through this solicitation will form part of a demonstration project that will guide the future development of a local diversion program model. The performance of the program or programs awarded through this solicitation will be evaluated over the contract term based on several factors including effectiveness in resolving situations of homelessness, impact of differing types of assistance, and cost efficiency.
The total funding available through this solicitation stands at $446,000. The agreement between HSO and the selected service provider or providers is expected to commence on August 1, 2024, and could potentially extend through September 30, 2027.
Proposals must be submitted in the City of Austin’s PartnerGrants Database by 3 p.m. on June 4, 2024. Full eligibility requirements and application details are available through the PartnerGrants Database. For more information about homelessness in Austin, please visit www.austintexas.gov/homelessness.
