Housing First Scattered Site Supportive Housing for Homeless Adults Western New York and Long Island Region

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development and operation of two Housing First Scattered Site Supportive Housing programs intended to serve homeless adults in Western New York and Long Island. This initiative reflects OMH’s commitment to investing in low-barrier, community-based housing models for individuals currently experiencing homelessness, regardless of mental health status or other diagnostic criteria. These programs align with the principles of Housing First by prioritizing rapid placement into housing with minimal preconditions and are designed to serve those residing in shelters, on the streets, or in places not meant for human habitation. Individuals under an Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) order must be given priority access. The target population includes individuals who are homeless and enrolled in Safe Options Support (SOS) Teams, Intensive and Sustained Engagement Teams (INSET), or Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Teams. SPOA/SPA referrals are not required. The initiative will fund the operation of two programs: one with 20 units across Steuben and Chemung Counties, and another with 25 units across Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Agencies may apply to operate one or both programs but must submit a separate application for each region. There is no capital funding provided through this RFP, but applicants are encouraged to consider apartment clustering near an agency-owned “hub” to promote peer support and service delivery. The awarded agencies will be expected to collaborate closely with referral sources and maintain readiness for expedited placements, with furnished apartments prepared for immediate occupancy. Services must be designed to be trauma-informed and culturally competent, with staffing that includes peer support specialists and a low client-to-staff ratio of 15:1. Staffing models with off-hour coverage and partnerships with external providers (e.g., integrated health, crisis services, employment support) are encouraged. Agencies must adhere to OMH’s Supportive Housing Guidelines, including expectations for resident lease rights, quarterly support plan reviews, and regular staff visits. All submissions must be made through the Statewide Financial System (SFS), and not-for-profit agencies must be prequalified in SFS prior to submission. Required components include a completed proposal narrative template, operating budget (Appendix B), certification forms (Sexual Harassment Prevention, Gender-Based Violence), and proof of Local Governmental Unit (LGU) notification. Applications not meeting these criteria may be disqualified. The proposal must follow strict file naming and upload conventions, and noncompliance may result in submission rejection. The SFS portal will be the sole point of application acceptance; mailed or emailed applications will not be considered. The timeline for this RFP includes a release date of January 6, 2026, with questions due by January 27, 2026. Responses to questions will be posted by February 17, 2026. Completed proposals are due by 2:00 PM EST on March 10, 2026. Award notifications are expected by April 21, 2026, with a contract start date of July 1, 2026. Contracts will be awarded for a five-year term. Agencies that fail to implement units within eight months of award may have their allocation retracted. In cases of contract termination, OMH reserves the right to reallocate units to the next highest-ranked applicant or reissue the RFP. Evaluation will be based on a 100-point scoring system, assessing proposal content such as target population approach, agency performance, diversity and equity planning, and financial assessments. A minimum score of 70 is required to be considered for funding. Selected agencies must maintain accurate case records, submit required data to OMH, and comply with site monitoring. Annual stipends per unit vary by region—$38,008 for Long Island and $21,441 (average) for Western New York, which includes a supplement to cover resident costs when benefits are not yet in place.

Start SFS submission at least 5 business days early; combine all non-budget uploads into a single PDF; non-compliance with file format may lead to disqualification.