The Seattle Human Services Department has announced funding awards for the Communities Supporting Safe & Stable Housing (CSSSH) program, a total of $14.3 million for 2013.
In addition to many agencies funded previously, these awards will support populations of homeless people who have been underserved, including seniors, youth, immigrants and refugees, and Native Americans. At total of 25 community agencies and 64 programs were funded through two procurement processes:
- A Request for Investments (RFI) process, open to agencies providing day center and placement as well as stabilization and support services for people who are homeless; and
- A Letter of Intent (LOI) process for agencies that provide shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing services; LOI applicants were rated only on their responses to questions related to the investment principles (see below).
Among the organizations (and the people they serve) that were given contracts for the first time for homeless services:
- Pike Market Senior Center serving senior citizens
- Neighborhood House serving immigrants and refugees
- Peace for the Streets by Kids from the Streets serving homeless youth
- Seattle Indian Center serving Native Americans
In 2012, HSD released the CSSSH Investment Plan to improve the City’s ability to prevent and end homelessness, while maintaining its commitment to providing safe and available shelters and essential services for people who need them. The plan created a set of investment principles which set clear expectations and standards for all providers seeking HSD funds:
- Provide culturally relevant and linguistically competent services
- Maintain high-quality standards for facilities and program operations
- Commit to neighborhood health and safety standards
- Coordinate and integrate services with community networks and mainstream service systems
- Collect and submit high quality data using the Safe Harbors Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
