The City of Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) is seeking applications for capital funding from agencies interested in providing services such as post-overdose care, opioid medication delivery, health hub services, long-term care management, and drop-in support.
What’s Funded
The City’s goal is to support enhanced treatment facilities, new addiction services, and improved overdose response to help reverse the dramatic rise in overdose deaths in Seattle attributed to fentanyl and methamphetamines.
Approximately $7 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are available through this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for construction and other eligible facilities costs. CDBG funds are made available to agencies via reimbursement. The City will pay for approved work after it has been completed and grant recipients have submitted an invoice that includes documentation proving completion.
The City of Seattle is committed to a dual public health and public safety approach to addressing the crisis of fentanyl and other illegal drugs, as defined in Mayor Harrell’s Executive Order 2023-04: Addressing the Opioid and Synthetic Drug Crisis in Seattle.
“The harm caused by fentanyl and other illegal drugs in our communities is as obvious as these drugs are deadly—they are killing the people using them and creating unsafe and unwelcoming conditions for all Seattle residents,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell this summer. “Success will not—and cannot—be measured on how many people cycle through jail; instead, our focus is on improving connections to lifesaving treatment and expanding program options to better meet the needs of those with substance use issues.”
Background
The escalating overdose crisis impacts individuals, families, and healthcare resources alike, necessitating immediate and strategic responses. According to Public Health—Seattle & King County data, the number of overdose deaths in King County has grown dramatically since 2019, jumping 20 percent by 2020 and an additional 39 percent the following year. In 2022, overdose deaths reached 1,001—a 40 percent increase from 2021.
As of October 13, there have been 1,025 overdose deaths this year—exceeding the previous year’s toll. The recent surge in overdose deaths is driven by fentanyl, which is involved in 70 percent of all confirmed overdose deaths that occurred in 2022, up from under 10 percent prior to 2018.
The most disproportionately impacted communities in King County are:
- People experiencing homelessness and people living in temporary or supportive housing.
- American Indian, Alaskan Native (non-Hispanic), and Black (non-Hispanic) residents.
- Communities located in Seattle and South King County.
The age adjusted overdose rate occurring in downtown Seattle alone in 2022 (112 per 100,000) was nearly double that occurring in any other location in the county. The focus of this RFQ will be on facilities serving this population of individuals with substance use disorders in the core of the city.
Who Should Apply
Due to the urgent need in Seattle for the facilities described in this RFQ, HSD is requesting application materials and responses that will help to prequalify agencies to meet CDBG eligibility requirements. Those who prequalify and meet service criteria as outlined in narrative responses will advance as finalists to work with HSD staff to determine project eligibility for CDBG funding.
This is an open and competitive process. For more information, including all RFQ materials, visit HSD’s Funding Opportunities web page at www.seattle.gov/humanservices/funding-and-reports/funding-opportunities. Completed application packets are due by Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. (noon) PDT.
If you have any questions or require assistance, contact Ann-Margaret Webb, Funding Process Coordinator, at ann-margaret.webb@seattle.gov.