Homeless Outreach/Assessment and Mobile Hygiene Services

Through this Request for Proposal (RFP), the City of Milpitas is seeking proposals from qualified vendors to provide Homeless Outreach/Assessment and Mobile Hygiene services. The City may, at its sole discretion, elect to award one or more contracts as a result of this RFP.

As part of the Homeless Outreach program, the awarded Contractor(s) will engage unhoused individuals, including those living in vehicles or unsheltered locations, by building trust, assessing their needs, and connecting them to available housing programs and supportive services. The goal of Outreach Services is to deliver intensive, field-based engagement and case management, provide consistent and critical support to individuals living in encampments, vehicles, on the streets, or in other locations not intended for human habitation, address basic needs, and work toward long-term housing solutions. Additionally, qualified vendors may propose mobile hygiene solutions, such as a “shower bus” or mobile trailer with showers, laundry machines, restrooms, and on-site case management, to improve health, restore dignity, and reduce barriers for unhoused residents once a week. All services are intended to improve health and well-being, reduce barriers to housing, and help unhoused residents transition to stable housing and support systems.

Qualified vendors may submit proposal responses for one or both services areas: Homeless Outreach/Assessment and/or Mobile Hygiene. See RFP, including the Scope of Services and attachments, for additional details.

In December 2020, the Milpitas City Council approved a pilot program to provide mobile hygiene services, including showers, laundry, and case management, for unhoused residents. The program was initially funded through a state grant and later extended with additional City funding to expand services through June 30, 2026. While the pilot successfully delivered essential resources, the City continues to recognize the need for comprehensive outreach and hygiene services to address the ongoing challenges faced by unhoused individuals.

This Request for Proposals (RFP) seeks qualified vendors to provide sustainable services that reduce barriers, improve health and well-being, and connect unhoused residents in Milpitas to housing and supportive programs. The City is committed to addressing homelessness through a strategic and compassionate approach, and developing programs and services tailored to the needs of unhoused individuals in Milpitas.