Housing Navigation Services

Request for Information: Housing Navigation Services
RFI # 163-07142026TB
A. INTRODUCTION
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) Recruitment, Retention and Talent Development division (RRTD) is
seeking proposals from potential vendors that can provide housing navigation services for our teachers
and staff. This support will assist them with rentals, home purchases, and understanding available benefits.
B. BACKGROUND
To grow our economy and local workforce, we must have a strong viable education system, yet the high
cost of living in the region makes it difficult for teachers to reside and work in our county. This presents a
significant recruitment and retention challenge amidst a shrinking teacher pipeline. In a recent survey, 43%
of Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) teachers indicated that housing presents a challenge to working
in CMS schools. Due to low salaries for teachers and the sharp inclines in housing costs in the
Charlotte-Metro region, it is cost-prohibitive to live and work in Charlotte without seeking external sources
of income.
A 2019 Rand Corporation Study found that teacher quality was the most important school-related factor
influencing student achievement. Quality teaching not only affects students' immediate achievement but
also has long-term effects on future academic success, career opportunities, and socioeconomic status.
Supporting teachers is thus not only the right thing to do for them, but also the best way we can support
our students.
The strategy to recruit and retain top talent in Charlotte allows us to meet the goals outlined in the
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools' Strategic Plan 2029.
Through its At Home in CMS initiative, CMS provides multi-layered support to teachers and all staff in
rentals, financial education, and home ownership. The program does this through 49 partners (as of
Summer 2026) and growing, who offer discounts, below-market rates, free services, and access to
downpayment assistance, among other offerings.
To help our educators navigate these and other options offered throughout the Charlotte-Mecklenburg
area, CMS provides the CMS HOST (Housing Opportunities for Staff and Teachers) program. CMS is looking
for an external vendor to offer ongoing housing navigation support for Charlotte-Mecklenburg teachers
and staff. This resource will act as a concierge, assisting CMS employees with identifying their goals and
current needs, offering recommendations, and shepherding connections into the appropriate program or
partnership.

C. OBJECTIVES OF THIS RFI
For each criteria, describe, to what extent, your product meets/does not meet the criteria.
Objective 1: Responsiveness
Criteria 1: The potential vendor is able to provide support and response to CMS employees within a 24-hour time period
(during business hours) by phone or email or at agreed upon scheduled times.
Justification/Comments with Examples: Meets
Does Not Meet
Objective 2: Needs Assessment
Prompt: The potential vendor is able to assess the individual needs of a CMS employee to determine the best support. This
includes but is not limited to current needs, time period, transportation, location or areas of town.
Justification/Comments with Examples: High
Mediu
m
Low
Criteria: The potential vendor is able to work with a CMS employee to determine and understand family household income in
order to provide the best matched support.
Justification/Comments with Examples: High
Mediu
m
Low
Criteria: The potential vendor can engage with CMS employees in a way that builds rapport and engenders trust with CMS
employees.
Justification/Comments with Examples: High
Mediu
m
Low
Objective 3: Provide Personalized Support and Resources
Prompt: The potential vendor will be able to use the needs assessment to make personalized recommendations and
connections for the employee to At Home in CMS partners or other local or national supports that best match the needs
identified.
Justification/Comments with Examples: High
Medium
Low
Prompt: The potential vendor will be able to build relationships with existing At Home in CMS partners to enable smooth
introductions, hand-offs, and ongoing monitoring with best-fit partners.
Justification/Comments with Examples: High
Medium
Low

Objective 4: Post Experience and Data Collection
Prompt: The potential vendor has the ability to monitor the employee experience until employees have the support needed
and their situations have been resolved. This could be several months or longer.
Justification/Comments with Examples: High
Medium
Low
Prompt: The potential vendor will be able to collect and use data to improve experience and will report aggregate data and
results to CMS monthly (preserving employee data privacy).
This includes but is not limited to survey data, demographic data, approval ratings, service times, program retention data,
and feedback from developers or partners.
Specific required data points for monthly reports include:
Number of employees at each stage of the process: requests, intakes, matches/hand-offs, resolutions
Yield rates between and across stages (e.g., between: request to intake, across: request to resolution)
Average days between and across stages
Employee satisfaction with support
Justification/Comments with Examples: High
Medium
Low
Prompt: The potential vendor has the ability to maintain contact with CMS employees and follow-up periodically to ensure
resolution and satisfaction.
Justification/Comments with Examples: High
Medium
Low
Objective 5: At Home in CMS Support
Prompt: The potential vendor has the ability to join various CMS recruitment, professional development, and retention
meetings and events to promote the use of CMS HOST, including but not limited to tabling or presenting at information
sessions.
Justification/Comments with Examples: High
Medium
Low
Prompt: The potential vendor has the ability to partner with Recruitment, Retention and Talent Development division staff
to create products that bolster the At Home in CMS initiative, potentially including summary materials about all At Home in
CMS partners or other informational materials.
Justification/Comments with Examples: High
Medium
Low

Objective 6: Pricing Structure
Prompt: The potential vendor can provide a transparent and fair pricing structure.
Potential vendors should describe their proposed model for pricing structure and any applicable rates. Pricing should include
all time spent, including any due diligence, direct service, data analysis and reporting, and regular check-ins with CMS.
This is non-binding and for informational purposes only.
Justification/Comments with Examples: High
Medium
Low
D. Cost for Proposal Preparation
THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning
purposes - it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue a RFP in the future.
This request for information does not commit Charlotte Mecklenburg Board of Education (CMBOE) to
contract for any service whatsoever. Invitees are advised that CMBOE will not pay for any information or
administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will
be solely at the interested party's expense.
RFI SCHEDULE
The table below shows the intended schedule for this RFI. The CMBE will make every effort to adhere to
this schedule.
Event Responsibility Date and Time
Issue RFP CMBE JULY 14, 2026
Submit Acknowledgement Form Vendor July 20, 2026 no later than 5:00PM
Hold Pre-Proposal Conference/Site CMBE July 22, 2026 @ 4:00 PM TEAMS (invite
Visit will be sent based on Acknowledgement
Form).
Submit Proposals Vendor JULY 30, 2026 NO LATER THAN 2:00 PM
EST
E. Reference to Other Data
Only information received in response to this RFI will be evaluated; reference to information previously
submitted shall not be evaluated.
F. CMS Facts
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) is the nation's eighteenth largest school district in the nation and
the second largest district in the state of North Carolina, with 101 elementary schools, 16 K-8 Schools,
29 middle schools, 2 Middle/High Schools, 33 high schools, and 4 Alternative Schools. CMS offers an
extensive range of magnet programs in 37 of these schools to nurture the talents of students who have

interest and ability in specific areas. CMS serves over 150,000 students throughout the cities and towns
of Mecklenburg County and provides support to 600+ secondary math teachers.
CMS is proud of its diverse mix of students who represent 187 different countries and various cultural
and ethnic backgrounds. Of these 140,000+ students, 33.8% identify as African American, 31.5%
identify as Hispanic, 23.6% identify as white, 7% identify as Asian. Of these students, 29% are identified
as English Learners, 9% are identified as Students with Disabilities and 10% are identified as
Academically Gifted.

EXECUTION OF RFI # 163-07142026TB
INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDERS:
1. Potential Vendors should provide information by Thursday, July 30, 2026 NO LATER THAN 2:00 PM
EST for furnishing services described herein. Electronic versions (PDF Format) should be emailed to
Anthony Becker anthonya.becker@cms.k12.nc.us with "Housing Navigation from <Potential Vendor
name>" in the subject line.
Do not mail in hard copies.
Faxed copies will not be accepted.
2. CMS will review all information supplied and schedule a discussion session if it is determined that
your solution suits the needs of CMS.
3. Discussions and demonstrations will be scheduled as needed to cover all areas specified in the
general requirements.
CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROHIBITED COMMUNICATIONS
During the RFI period, each Potential Vendor submitting information (including its representatives,
sub-contractors and/or suppliers) is prohibited from having any communications with any person inside
or outside of CMS (this includes school-based personnel). CMS personnel have been notified that a
"quiet period" has been put in place and have been instructed to reach out if any attempt at
communication is made.

Please fill out the below Acknowledgement Form and email to anthonya.becker@cms.k12.nc.us by
07/20/2026 no later than 5:00 PM EST with "Acknowledgement Form from <Potential Vendor name>"
in the subject line. Please make sure the email address is legible.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM
RFI # 163-07142026TB - Housing Navigation Services
Date: _____________________
A. The undersigned service provider hereby certifies receipt of the Request for Information package for the
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, Charlotte, North Carolina RFI # 163-07142026TB.
Authorized Signature: ______________________________________
Company Name: ___________________________________________
Company Address: __________________________________________
Correspondence EMAIL Address : __________________________________________
B. Please check the appropriate space provided below and provide the requested information:
_______ We do plan to submit a Proposal in response to RFI # 163-07142026TB.
Primary Contact Name: _____________________________________________________
Contact E-mail address: ____________________________________________________
Contact phone: ______________________ Fax number: _________________________
Secondary Contact Name: __________________________________________________
Contact E-mail address: ____________________________________________________
Contact phone: _______________________ Fax number: _______________________
_______ We do not plan to submit a Proposal in response to RFI # 163-07142026TB.
Reason: _________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________