HOMELESS PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION SERVICES FOR TRANSITION-AGE YOUTH

The County of Sacramento Department of Homeless Services and Housing (DHSH) is seeking proposals from qualified agencies and Community Based Organizations (CBO) (“Proposers”) interested in administering a program for Transition Age Youth (TAY), who are aged 18-24 and experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness. Program services should be inclusive of prevention services, diversion services, supportive services, and facilitation of connections to interim/emergency shelter and permanent housing to address all states of homelessness. The program will provide limited term support in the form of financial assistance, case management services, housing stabilization and supportive services.

This Request for Proposals (RFP) specifically seeks to address the needs of TAY who are:

• At risk of losing temporary shelter or permanent housing; or
• Require immediate services and resources before any amount of time is spent unsheltered; or
• In need of stable permanent housing to end homelessness

The proposed program will include the following elements:

• Strategic provision of services by an experienced provider.
• Demonstration of community leadership and experience in resolving homelessness for youth ages 18-24; and
• Demonstration and familiarity with former foster youth (FFY) and experience navigating housing and support services for youth obtaining youth-specific vouchers; and
• Collaboration with local youth-specific providers, homeless services providers, the Continuum of Care (CoC), educational systems, local communities, and the County.

In Sacramento County, the 2024 Point In Time (PIT) count reported that 437 Transitional-Age Youth (TAY) were experiencing homelessness in Sacramento County on any given night, with 176 (40.4%) TAY identified as unsheltered. The number reported in the PIT does not include those youth who are marginally or unstably housed (doubled up or “couch surfing”). It can be assumed that many more Sacramento County youth are impacted by homelessness. Contributing factors leading to homelessness include family problems, involvement in foster care, economic circumstances, substance abuse issues (youth and/or primary caregiver), pregnancy and sexual orientation (LGBTQIA+) . Age, developmental issues, education and life/social skill development of TAY often require a broader array of interventions and support services tailored to this population delivered through education, job training, employment, long-term housing, behavioral health services and life skills. Youth may present with unique needs and circumstances such as family conflict, trafficking, gender identification and parenting their own children.

Through this RFP, the County is seeking to strengthen youth-specific services to prevent and resolve youth homelessness.