Through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), one-time Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CLFR) have become available to King County. The goal is to use this funding to de-intensify existing Shelters by providing more Shelter capacity to rapidly serve unsheltered families or individuals, to reduce the risk of contact spreading among encampments and those living unsheltered, by, among other things, providing temporary lodging, food, support, and services to unhoused individuals currently residing in or near the applicant city.

To that end, the County seeks to provide funding to one or more cities located in south King County to site, construct, operate, and/or projects that benefit people living unsheltered and mitigate the negative impacts of living unsheltered, such as, day centers, hygiene services, sanctioned encampments and Shelter within the city for serving unsheltered individuals or families. Up to $5 million in funding is available to pay for or reimburse eligible costs incurred from the contract start date through December 31, 2026.

This RFP is soliciting information regarding the program description, timeline, cost, and feasibility to determine which city or cities has the most effective plan to reduce unsheltered homelessness within their community.

The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is partnering with the Office of Performance, Strategy, and Budget (PSB) Grants team to manage this RFP and the associated grant agreements for awarded agencies.

Eligible Applicants: In order to be eligible for consideration for these funds, the Proposer must meet all of the following qualifications:

• Must be a city government located in south King County.
• Not be debarred from receiving federal funds and be in good standing with all government and funding contracts and no unresolved corrective actions
• Participate in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
• Participate in Coordinated Entry housing placement processes
• Participate in regional homelessness system initiatives

A Proposer will not be disqualified if it chooses to contract with a third-party organization to carry out all or part of the activities and services described in the Proposal. However, the Proposer must be a city meeting the above listed qualifications and identify any known third-parties who will carry out all or part of the Proposal, or indicate which parts of the Proposal are expected to be performed by a third-party(-ies) if not known at the time of submission.

Allowable Use of Funds: Proposals must describe a program that provides new or expanded Shelter and related services to people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. At a minimum, a Proposal must meet the following qualifications:

• Increase Shelter availability for unsheltered individuals or families through the acquisition/construction of a Shelter setting designed to meet CDC and Public Health Seattle/King County (PHSKC) “Sanitation and Hygiene Guidance for Homeless Service Providers,” and other PSHKC recommendations to minimize the spread of COVID-19 (more info here).
• Ensure that the funds are not used to require people experiencing homelessness to participate in treatment or perform any other pre-requisite activities as a condition for receiving Shelter, housing or other services.
• Nonprofit and for-profit festival and events organizations, chambers of commerce, cities, tourism entities, tribal entities, or organizations that produce events with paid or volunteer-based staff.
• Proposal must be for a new program or the expansion of an existing program, and not for the mere continuation of an existing program.
• Meet CDC guidelines.

Additional details on allowable expenditure types are included in the RFP linked below.