Behavioral Health Interim Housing Placement

The County is seeking proposals for an interim shelter model that provides time-limited stabilization through an interim housing program of approximately 90 to 120 days.

The program must primarily serve adults and older adults (ages 18 and over) with Serious Mental Illness and/or Substance Use Disorders who are experiencing homelessness, are at risk of homelessness, or are transitioning from institutional settings. Proposers may also elect to serve additional populations as a program enhancement, including parents or families with minor children who meet the same eligibility criteria and adult couples seeking to be sheltered together. While not required, the ability to effectively incorporate these populations will be considered a competitive advantage during proposal evaluation. Additionally, the County encourages Proposers to consider incorporating a limited number of immediate-access nightly (e.g., drop-in) beds for individuals requiring urgent shelter placement. Although not a minimum program requirement, this capability will be evaluated as a program enhancement.

Program design should reflect the unique needs of the population served, emphasize cost efficiency, and support the delivery of wrap-around or day services. The County is open to a range of facility configurations, including larger congregate settings, smaller-scale or single-family home–style environments, or other innovative models, provided the design promotes safety, stability, and effective service delivery. The County may fund one or multiple proposals, individually or in combination, to achieve a total capacity of up to 50 beds.

In March 2024, California voters approved Proposition 1, the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), which modernizes the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) to better respond to current behavioral health system needs. BHSA expands eligible populations to include individuals with Substance Use Disorders (SUD), prioritizes services for individuals with Serious Mental Illness (SMI), and establishes a more structured framework for accountability, outcomes, and service delivery.

BHSA is guided by core principles that include sustained investments in housing interventions, workforce development, prevention and early intervention, and innovative and pilot programs. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2026-2027, counties are required to allocate 30 percent of BHSA funding to housing interventions serving individuals with the most significant behavioral health needs who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. Of this housing allocation, no less than 50 percent must be prioritized for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. This RFP is intended to support the County’s compliance with these housing requirements while expanding urgently needed interim shelter capacity for high-need populations.

The County conducts a comprehensive Community Program Planning (CPP) process to assess the behavioral health system of care, engage community stakeholders, and identify service gaps and priority needs. Through this process, the County has identified a continued need for interim housing and shelter options that are specifically designed to serve adults with SMI who are experiencing homelessness or transitioning from institutional settings.