Youth Interim Housing Program

The County of San Mateo's Human Services Agency (HSA), through its Center on Homelessness (COH), is seeking proposals to operate a Youth Interim Housing Program to serve transitional age youth (TAY) experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The procurement seeks a qualified agency to manage a six-bedroom, four-bathroom single-family home near Redwood City that will provide shelter for homeless youth aged 18-24. Key program objectives include providing case management, food services, and support to help clients transition to permanent housing within 150 days, with a focus on implementing Housing First principles and offering culturally appropriate services. The RFP (2026-COH-RFP-00071) was released on September 24, 2025, with proposals due on October 22, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. PST. An optional site walkthrough is scheduled for October 9, 2025, and questions from potential proposers must be submitted by October 14, 2025. Evaluation criteria will assess proposers' ability to meet minimum qualifications, including having at least three years of experience operating interim housing programs for transitional age youth. The contract is tentatively scheduled for a three-year term beginning in January 2026, with potential extension for up to two additional years.

The procurement does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types, but proposers must be legally authorized to conduct business in California and cannot be on the federal debarment list. The program will be funded through County General Funds, Measure K sales tax revenues, and state Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) funding. The County will own the facility and provide maintenance services, while the selected contractor will be responsible for staffing, food services, case management, and facility operations. The initial program capacity is six clients, with potential expansion to be discussed during contract negotiations. The budget template indicates flexibility in expense reporting, with a maximum indirect cost rate of 15%. While no specific incumbent vendor is mentioned, the program emphasizes close collaboration with the San Mateo County Coordinated Entry System for client referrals. Performance will be measured on key metrics including exits to permanent housing, length of stay, increased employment income, and data quality. The County does not guarantee minimum utilization or expenditure, and proposers scoring above 75% on evaluation criteria may be eligible for future awards.