Interim Shelter - Bridge Housing Bed Expansion

Sacramento County Department of Health Services, Behavioral Health Services is procuring qualified operators through an open enrollment to expand interim shelter bed capacity under the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH) program. This procurement seeks applicants to rapidly establish and operate up to 100 low-barrier interim shelter beds serving individuals experiencing homelessness with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder who are linked to County behavioral health services. Successful applicants must operate 24/7 shelter programs that provide safe accommodations, meals, hygiene services, case management, housing navigation, and coordination with behavioral health treatment, with a minimum 90% occupancy rate requirement. Applicants must maintain compliance with Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and SmartCare data requirements, coordinate access to CalAIM Community Supports services including Housing Transition Navigation Services, Housing Tenancy and Sustaining Services, and Transitional Rent, and facilitate transitions to permanent housing. Program deliverables include immediate shelter and housing stabilization while engaging participants in ongoing behavioral health treatment and facilitating connections to permanent housing solutions. The open enrollment period began May 4, 2026, with responses due by December 31, 2026, at 5:00 PM through the Sacramento County procurement portal (https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/saccounty), evaluated on a first-come, first-served basis until all funds or bed capacity are fully allocated. The County reserves the right to close the posting earlier if total bed capacity and available funding are fully allocated.

Eligible applicants must be public agencies, nonprofits, or entities legally authorized to operate housing programs in California with a minimum of three years of experience within the past five years operating interim shelter, bridge housing, or similar homeless services programs using Housing First, harm reduction, and low-barrier principles. Applicants must demonstrate site control or availability with the ability to secure the site within two weeks of contract execution and begin accepting referrals within 30 days of award. The procurement carries no set-aside designations or disadvantaged enterprise restrictions; however, the supplemental BHBH Round 3 RFA documentation indicates bonus points available for applicants serving historically underserved populations, collaborating with Tribal entities, and serving populations from non-funded counties. The total estimated funding pool is $4,700,000, subject to County approval and contract negotiations, with anticipated multiple awards at varying funding levels and bed capacities determined during post-award negotiations. The estimated operational funding rate is a maximum of $126.01 per bed per night, reduced by any Transitional Rent reimbursement received from Managed Care Plans for the same participant. Funding is limited to operational costs for interim shelter beds and supportive services, with no infrastructure or capital funding available. The BHBH grant funding extends through June 30, 2027, establishing the contract performance period end date.