Today, the Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) announced funding awards to three outreach agencies—REACH, Seattle Indian Center, and Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle—in response to the 2021 Expanding Neighborhood-Specific Outreach Expedited Request for Qualifications (RFQ).
The cumulative awards total will equal $768,000 and add seven full time equivalent employees (FTEs) in underserved neighborhoods in Seattle: three FTEs covering West Seattle, Delridge, South Park, and Rainier Valley vicinities; two FTEs in the Lake City area; and two FTEs in Northwest Seattle.
This RFQ funding process was a competitive, closed process, open only to homeless outreach and engagement programs with existing HSD contracts.
Funding for the RFQ is allocated from one-time dollars from the General Fund to hire additional outreach workers who are representative of BIPOC communities. The FTEs will expand homeless outreach services to neighborhoods with growing needs and will address the complex needs of individuals experiencing homelessness including accessing shelter, behavioral health services, and substance use disorder resources. The newly funded homeless outreach FTEs are contracted from March 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021.
Funding from this RFQ is allocated as follows:
| Agency | FTEs | RFQ Award Amounts | Neighborhoods |
| REACH | 3 | $329,144.00 | (2) West Seattle, Delridge, South Park, and Rainier Valley vicinities; (1) Northwest Seattle |
| Seattle Indian Center | 2 | $219,428.00 | (2) Lake City vicinity |
| Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle | 2 | $219,428.00 | (1) West Seattle, Delridge, South Park, and Rainier Valley vicinities; (1) Northwest Seattle |
Homeless outreach and engagement providers work in partnership with the City of Seattle’s HOPE Team to provide a strategic and comprehensive scope of services to unsheltered individuals living in Seattle.