Attachment A - Additional Information Section VI - Q2.pdf

Department of Human Services Develop Supportive Housing SS - BidBuy Bid#

ATTACHMENT A

Section VI - Question#2 - Additional information on Deliverables

Co-convene Housing Forum:

* Propose and staff relevant working groups accordingly and provide guidance on group goals as new areas of policy are identified quarterly.

* Convene additional smaller working groups to offer policy and implementation recommendations on housing needs, such as alternative housing models, housing or service policy development and coordination with health reform activities. Conducted as needed.

Develop & implement consumer assessment process:

* Assist in planning and development of an assessment tool to identify housing and service needs and ensure appropriate housing match to meet those needs.

* Assist in the implementation of the assessment tool and train the agencies in the proper use of the assessment tool, as it relates to housing. Provide ongoing training & TA.

* Assist with the revision and updates of all relevant Bridge Program forms and Policy documents.

* Work with DBHR and other key stakeholders to identify creative use of the Bridge Subsidy to meet the goals of the consent decree.

* Manage the translation of relevant documents into Spanish for Spanish-speaking consumers.

Manage DBHR Bridge Online Data System:

* Act as manager and administrator of the Bridge Online Data System. Duties will include: data entry, data quality monitoring, report generating & new user registration. Conducted daily.

* Develop and provide training and technical assistance to all users including: Regional Housing Support Facilitators, DBHR Housing Coordinators, Subsidy Administrators & Agency staff as directed by the State.

* Update the DBHR Bridge Online Data System, as determined by the State. Manage technology upgrades as and when required.

Support Housing Location Team:

* Convene Housing Locator staff to review progress towards housing placement goals and address Housing Locator concerns and identify any systemic barriers to housing.

* Play the lead role in managing and training Housing Locators.

* Develop and deliver curriculum for a training series for Housing Locators, including the following issues areas: Tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities, Fair Housing, Eviction Prevention, and Working with the Subsidy Administrators. Training series offered annually.

* Review and provide guidance on housing location protocol and fair housing. Conducted ongoing.

* Provide guidance on landlord/Class Member conflict resolution. Conducted on-going.

* Offer a framework for Housing Locators to identify opportunities for project-based Bridge subsidies with landlords.

* Create and update landlord outreach materials for Housing Locators to positively market the Williams Consent Decree.

* Develop community profiles that can be used as marketing materials by DBHR vendors working with consumers who are reluctant to move into neighborhoods that are less familiar to them. These community profiles will build upon existing materials that may already be developed or are in development by Community Development agencies, or other entities that promote Chicago or local neighborhood amenities.

Ensure Consumer Satisfaction:

* Create and disseminate Class Member satisfaction surveys to Prime contractors of the Comprehensive Program, as directed by the State. Analyze results and present findings to DBHR.

Develop DBHR & mental health agency understanding of PSH models, financing & best practices:

* Develop and deliver curriculum for a training series for direct care staff, including transition agencies, DBHR, mental health care agencies, and non-profit agencies, in the following issues areas: PSH 101, , PSH Bridge Subsidy Program, DBHR Online Database, Assessing Class Members of Appropriate Housing and Services Placement, Providing Housing Based Case Management, Housing First, Eviction Prevention, Landlord Engagement, Property Management and Services Coordination, Planning for Critical Incidences, Tenant Engagement, and others, as appropriate.

* Provide support and information to DBHR vendors who are working on Olmstead Initiatives that reinforce state goals. At the same time gather information on implementation issues at the provider level to inform future DBHR planning.

* Provide one-on-one technical assistance meetings to comprehensive program prime agencies and their delegates, property managers and owners to help facilitate leasing of units for consumers.

Conduct as needed.

* Develop curricula and deliver training for new and existing comprehensive program prime agencies and their delegates agencies, from PSH 101 to Working with Landlords. Conducted as needed.

* Research implementation and funding of PSH models and funding, as needed. Review program regulations for HOME, CDBG, LIHTC, etc as needed.

* Inform "diversion and prevention" strategies for the system for those assessed as not appropriate for

IMD.

Engage additional developers & property managers in PSH creation for class members:

* Deliver CSH Supportive Housing Academy. Conducted at least annually.

* Conduct outreach to owners and property managers, in coordination with the Statewide Housing Coordinators and IDHS Staff with a focus on high-demand geographic areas, but also providing sufficient coverage to all areas of opportunity in the state.

* Make presentations through established property management training events (e.g. Community Investment Corporation, Chicago Housing Authority Landlord Symposium).

* Develop and deliver training series for developers and property managers as needed, including the following issue area: Capital, operations and services financing for PSH Developments, PSH program models, Developing Disability-Neutral PSH Plans, Working with the State Referral Network, Property Management and Special Needs Housing.

* Provide a range of TA to new and experienced developers on supportive housing financing and operations to ensure that new and existing projects contain partnerships and tenancy standards that are accommodating of the consumers with mental illness.

* Assist DBHR with communicating housing needs and models to developers throughout the state.

Foster partnerships & creative financing strategies:

* Convene meetings with public sector entities, including Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and the City of Chicago; discuss pipeline opportunities and preferences for Class Members.

* Support cross-sector meetings and planning processes with public sector entities. Contribute to agenda, participate in meeting and/or facilitate, and support follow up activities and outcomes.

* Follow up with policy research and propose models for further development of PSH that will meet the needs of the consent decrees. This may include suggestions for creative financing/resource sharing partnerships between the entities.

* Connect state rebalancing initiatives generally - and Olmstead rebalancing efforts specifically -into other housing resource discussions with the City of Chicago (Chicago Housing Authority, Chicago Department of Family and Support Services, Department of Housing and Economic Development) and other municipalities or Public Housing Authorities across the state (i.e. Cook County, Peoria, McHenry County, etc.).

* Inform and advocate for policies and priorities that best meet the goals of the Permanent Supportive Housing for inclusion in the annual Affordable Housing Plan drafted by the Illinois Housing Development Authority and the Governor's Affordable Housing Task Force.

* Advocate for the housing needs and implementation strategies of DBHR and its vendors to successfully access the HUD 811 rental assistance resources for the Comprehensive Transition Program.

* Work in partnership with the Statewide Housing Coordinator to follow up with Public Housing Authorities who have committed to assist with housing for Class Members. Create and Implement Policy to Develop PSH for the Comprehensive Transition Program.

* Working closely with key Systems Rebalancing stakeholders, assist DBHR to set priorities and define strategic goals to ensure positive goals, outcomes and establish adequate infrastructure to meet the objectives of the consent decrees.

* Promote Integrated Housing models and policies, and ensuring that DBHR policies consistent with or complementary to other housing financing policies for supportive housing, such as concentration and composition of supportive housing rental subsidies in new developments.

* Support State planning activities by identifying and recommending bridge subsidy opportunities, alternatives and future modeling, in alignment with quality supportive housing best practices.

Support statewide housing coordination activities:

* Work with the Statewide Housing Coordinator to support Statewide Referral Network (SRN) system activities, including data entry, drafting policy and procedure, ensuring data accuracy, and facilitation of unit matching.

* Recommend and identify opportunities for SRN unit process and utilization improvement.