Call for Proposals

Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS)

Aboriginal Homelessness Funding - Duncan

United Way Central & Northern Vancouver Island

On behalf of the Duncan Community Advisory Board (CAB)

1. Introduction:

The Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) is a community-based program designed to address homelessness across Canada, relying on communities to determine their own needs and to develop projects accordingly. Nationally, the HPS aims to prevent and reduce homelessness across Canada through the mobilization of partnerships at federal, provincial/territorial, and community levels. These partnerships contribute to sustainable and comprehensive development of services and facilities to help those who are chronically or episodically homeless, or at risk of homelessness, or are part of the hidden homeless population, move towards well-being and self-sufficiency.

The HPS supports 61 designated communities and some small, rural, northern and Aboriginal communities across Canada to develop local solutions to homelessness. The HPS funds local priorities identified by communities providing communities with the flexibility to invest in proven approaches that reduce homelessness at the local level.

In 2014, the Federal Government committed to 5 years of funding for the HPS program. The HPS recognizes that the first steps toward self-sufficiency are to reduce individuals’ risk of homelessness and to ensure that they attain a stable living arrangement. The five (5) priority areas for the HPS program for the next five years are:

1. Housing First - To reduce homelessness through a Housing First (HF) approach, and;

2. Support Services - To improve the self-sufficiency of homeless individuals and families

and those at risk of homelessness through individualized services;

3. Coordinate Resources and Leveraging - To ensure coordination of resources and

leveraging;

4. Capital Investment Projects - To preserve or increase the capacity used to address the

needs of people who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness;

5. Data Collection - To improve data collection and use.

2.  HPS Delivery:

Community Advisory Board (CAB)

The purpose of the Community Advisory Board (CAB) is to facilitate the delivery of Aboriginal Designated HPS funding in Duncan and to engage stakeholders and funding partners to work together to prevent and reduce homelessness.

The CAB is comprised of sector representatives/stakeholders in Duncan who have an interest in the issue of homelessness. CAB members come from various sectors, including not-for-profit organizations, Aboriginal organizations, municipal government, provincial government, federal government, private sector and other public organizations.

Roles and Responsibilities of the CAB:

·  Identifying local needs and funding priorities to address homelessness issues in the community.

·  Ensuring a coordinated community response to homelessness.

·  Assessing progress in addressing community needs.

·  Engaging stakeholders and funders to actively work together to prevent and reduce homelessness.

·  Assessing project proposals and making funding recommendations to the Community Entity (CE).

Community Entity (CE)

Employment and Skills Development Canada (ESDC), based on a recommendation from the Community Advisory Board, entrusts a community body with the ability to select and manage Homelessness Partnering Strategy projects in their community.

Roles and Responsibilities of the CE:

The mandate of the CE includes:

•  Soliciting applications;

•  Reception and initial screening of applications;

•  Supporting a meaningful consultation with the CAB on project recommendations

•  Approving projects recommended by the CAB;

•  Contracting of all agreements held with sub-project funding recipients;

•  Financial and activity monitoring of all sub-project agreements under the HPS;

•  Supporting the CAB in its mandate;

•  Developing partnerships;

•  Documenting sources of matching funding for the community;

•  Facilitating service delivery coordination;

• Reporting on its activities and disbursements;

• Reporting on the results and outcomes of their sub-project agreements;

• Supporting sub-project agreement holders to complete results reporting;

• Monitoring the use of facilities funded by HPS; and

• Any other reporting deemed necessary by Canada.

2.  Funding:

Aboriginal Homelessness Funding:

Aboriginal Homelessness funding is used for projects delivered primarily by Aboriginal service providers across Canada to address the specific needs of the off-reserve homeless Aboriginal population. It includes activities that promote inclusion within the Aboriginal community and that are congruent with Aboriginal identity and practices to ensure services are integrated and culturally-appropriate.

The total number of projects funded and the amount of funding per project will be determined based on the number and quality of proposals received, HPS Duncan Aboriginal funding available for the fiscal year April 1, 2015 through March 31, 2016 is $78,100. The United Way Central and Northern Vancouver Island is under no obligation to approve any application through this process. Funded projects may be extended beyond March 31, 2016 (for the same approximate amount) based on evaluation of project activities and concurrence/recommendation from the Duncan Community Advisory Board.

4. 2015-2016 Funding Priorities:

The Duncan Community Advisory Board has identified Support Services as the funding priority for the 2015-2016 call for proposals. Projects funded through the 2015-16 CFP will be directed to activities that relate to Support Services.

For the HPS, support service is defined as any service to improve the self sufficiency of homeless individuals and families and those at imminent risk of homelessness through individualized services. These services are offered to individuals and families who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless.

Eligible Activities Areas:

• Housing placement;

• Connecting clients to income supports;

• Pre-employment support, and bridging to the labour market;

• Life skills development;

• Supports to improve clients’ social integration;

• Culturally relevant responses to help aboriginal clients;

• Connecting clients to education and supporting success;

• Liaise and refer to appropriate resources;

• Housing loss prevention (only for families and individuals at imminent risk of

homelessness);

• Basic or urgent needs services.

Client Group:

The support services priority is directed at serving clients that are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness. Homeless or at Imminent Risk of Homelessness refers to individuals or families whose current housing situation ends in the near future (i.e. within one to two months)

and for which no subsequent residence has been identified. They are unable to secure permanent housing because they do not have sufficient resources or support networks immediately available to prevent them from moving to an emergency shelter or a public or private place not meant for human habitation.

HPS Eligible and Ineligible Costs:

Eligible costs under this CFP may include:

• Overhead costs, including costs related to central administrative functions of the

organization that are drawn upon to support agreement activities (such as shared

postage, telephones, IT maintenance and head office support);

• Costs of materials and supplies;

• Wages and mandatory employment related costs;

• Staff training and professional development costs;

• Honoraria;

• Printing and communication costs;

• Professional fees, such as consultants, audit, technical expertise, facilitation, legal, and

construction contractors;

• Participant costs;

• Vehicles, tools, equipment, machinery, computers, and furniture;

• Other costs necessary to support the purpose of the funding, as approved by the CE.

Ineligible Activities under the priority of Support Services may include:

• Building, renovating or repurposing facilities for affordable housing;

• New construction or purchase of facilities for emergency shelters;

• Emergency housing funding (e.g. rent subsidies, housing allowances) when the client is

supported by existing provincial/territorial and municipal rent subsidy programs;

• Direct income support to individuals who are homeless, at risk or at imminent risk of

homelessness;

• Medical/clinical staff;

• Clinical health and treatment services;

• Daycare;

• Advocacy and lobbying activities towards elected representatives on questions related to

homelessness and public awareness activities;

• Public Education (e.g. education tuition, teaching salary);

• Activities and supports taking place on-reserve;

• Software development and/or the purchase of hardware for the collection and/or

management of homelessness data that results in an inability to participate in the

National Homelessness Information System initiative (NHIS); and that constitutes a

redundant use of funds and duplicates activities already offered through the Homeless

Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS) software. For example: purchasing

alternative software that performs similar functions to the HIFIS software.

The Directives from the government of Canada on eligible and ineligible HPS activities are to be adhered to and may be found on the web site;

http://www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/communities/homelessness/funding/directives.shtml

5. Minimum Eligibility Requirements:

a. Document submission: application for funding, Budget and Letter of Community

Support.

Letters of community support must be current and include:

·  the name and description of the organization;

·  the name, position title, and signature of the writer, and the date; and

·  where possible, the organization’s letterhead.

Letters must clearly endorse the project and demonstrate the following:

·  knowledge and support of your organization;

·  knowledge and support of the proposed project;

·  the need for the proposed project in the community

b. Who can apply: Not-for-profit organizations; individuals; municipal governments; for-

profit enterprises; research organizations and institutes; public health and educational

institutions; Band/tribal councils; and other Aboriginal organizations are eligible to

receive funding and act as coordinators for activities. Preference will be given to

Aboriginal organizations to deliver projects, where feasible, in cases where a project’s

objectives and activities specifically target off-reserve/settlement Aboriginal people who

are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.

For-profit enterprises are eligible for funding provided that the nature and intent of the

activity is non-commercial, does not generate profit, and fits within the community plan

or identified local need where plans are not required. Individuals, for-profit enterprises,

and research organizations and institutes may also receive funding to carry out research

that aims to help communities understand and address homelessness issues.

c. Eligible HPS Priorities: project must be aligned with the eligible HPS funding priority

mentioned in Section 4 above.

d. Eligible Geographic Region: Projects must take place in Duncan, BC.

e. Matching Contributions: HPS encourages cost matching partnerships. Applicants with

contributing partners to a project (cash or in-kind) are required to submit letters

confirming the nature and the amount of each partner commitment.

f. Completion of activities and HPS funds must be expended by March 31, 2016.

6. Application Checklist:

Please send complete submissions by February 20th, 2015 electronically, in person or by mail to:

Cheryl McKenzie

United Way Central & Northern Vancouver Island

#9 – Prideaux Street

Nanaimo, BC V9R 2N4

250-591-8731

Applications received after February 20, 2015 4PM will not be accepted.

Submissions under this CFP must include:

• HPS Application (Application package will be provided)

• HPS Budget Negotiation Notes (Application package will be provided)

• Letters of support from the community

7. Proposal Evaluation:

To be considered for funding under the HPS, proposals must meet all of the following basic eligibility requirements:

• The proposal must support the objectives of the HPS for the Aboriginal funding stream.

These objectives are outlined and can be found at the following ESDC website;

http://www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/communities/homelessness/funding/terms.shtml

• All approved projects must have HPS funding spent on or before March 31, 2016;

• The type of project or activities being proposed must address the priority for HPS

Aboriginal funding for 2015-2016; Support Services as identified in Section 4.

• The proposal must have community support and address the needs of the homeless

population in the community of Duncan.

Proposal Analysis - Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated in each of the following areas:

i. Capacity of the applicant: What is the capacity of the applicant and the people involved in carrying out the project activities in terms of experience, resources, and to ensure the project will be successfully implemented?

ii. Meets Community needs/priorities: How well does the proposal advance the objectives of the HPS and the priorities identified by the Community Advisory Board? How well does it respond to community needs?

iii. Partnerships and community support: Does the submission include letters of support or show involvement of homeless people, people at risk of homelessness, or other homelessness service providers in proposal development and planning? Have agencies collaborated and coordinated to provide a project or activity for the homeless people? Does the project demonstrate linkages to other agencies for the provision of services?

iv. Measurable and achievable outcomes: Does the proposed project or activity have measurable and achievable benefits or outcomes to meet the needs of the homeless population

(e.g. numbers to be served or housed, number of beds)? What will be the impact in the short term and in the longer term?

v. Value for money: Are the benefits of the project commensurate with the scope of the investment? Are costs reasonable compared to the anticipated outcomes of the project? Are costs reasonable and aligned with the value of the proposed activities at prevailing market rates in the community? Are costs necessary to carry out the activities successfully (e.g., is it necessary to cover travel costs for an international conference?) Are costs eligible and directly related to the proposed activities?

vi. Appropriate location: Are the project activities located in the city of Duncan? Is the location appropriate for the intended clientele? Is the project or service located close to complementary facilities and/or services (including public transit)?

vii. Process to measure success: What evaluation and monitoring processes will be put in place to measure performance of the project?

viii. Cultural appropriateness: are services being offered address the needs of Aboriginal people who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless, has preference been given to Aboriginal organizations to deliver these services? Does the applicant demonstrate the capacity to respond to the unique challenges that face homelessness for Aboriginal peoples, youth at risk, people

with disabilities, people with mental illness and those chronically addicted? Does the proposal explain how those challenges will be addressed in the project?

ix. Sustainability of the benefits of the project: Will the benefits of the proposed project or activities be sustained when the HPS contribution agreement ends?

Please note:

• The lowest dollar amount proposal will not necessarily be selected