Emergency Shelter Services
Camillus House, Inc. (“Camillus House”) is a local not-for-profit organization that has served the homeless population for over sixty (60) years. Providing a wide array of services, Camillus House not only helps the poor and vulnerable with basic needs such as showers, clean clothing, hot meals, and shelter, but extends its services into transitional/permanent housing and specialized outreach.
On October 16, 2013, the Mayor and City Commission approved the issuance of Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 228-2013, for emergency shelter beds to serve the homeless population. On February 12, 2014, the Mayor and Commission adopted Resolution No. 2014-28482, authorizing the City Manager to execute a service agreement with Camillus House for the provision of a minimum of twelve (12) emergency shelter beds, in conjunction with Care Plan Management services, for the collective amount of $335,946 over a three (3)-year term.
On March 1, 2017, the Mayor and City Commission approved the issuance of Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 2017- 075 -KB for Emergency Shelter Beds to Serve the homeless population. On September 25, 2017, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2017-30000, authorizing the City Manager to award a service agreement for a minimum of twelve (12) emergency shelter beds to Camillus House in the collective amount of $1,051,875.99 over a five (5)-year term. The Administration agreed that Camillus House has proven to be a vital shelter bed resource in providing services to the homeless population of Miami Beach; therefore, the current shelter bed agreement is in the process of renewal for another year.
Specialized Mental Health Services- Camillus House Lazarus Project
During various meetings in 2018, the City’s Committee on the Homeless discussed the possibility of a collaborative partnership with Camillus House Lazarus Project (“Lazarus Project”), resulting in a motion to support the launch of a pilot program to target homeless persons who have a mental illness. The program’s primary goal would be to target ten (10) chronically homeless individuals identified by the City’s Homeless Outreach Services Division and Police Department, and engage, assess, treat, and secure supportive permanent housing placements.
On July 2, 2018, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution 2018-30371, accepting the recommendation of the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee to fund a one (1) year pilot program with Lazarus Project to conduct specialized outreach to mentally ill homeless persons in FY 2019 in the amount $91,572, and referring to the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee (FERC), with a favorable recommendation, the funding of the pilot program in the amount of $91,572, as an enhancement in the FY 2019 Budget. The service agreement was executed on February 6, 2019, and the Lazarus Project provided services to ten (10) chronically homeless individuals per their service agreement. The Lazarus Project continued to provide services until September 2020. The FY 2021 Operating Budget did not include funding for the Lazarus Project, therefore the program went into a hiatus.
On September 30, 2021, the Mayor and City Commission approved Resolution 2021-31869, adopting the FY 2022 Operating Budget, with the Lazarus Project as a recurring enhancement in the amount of $100,000.
On May 4, 2022, the City executed the FY 2022 Agreement in the amount of $100,000. However, the commencement of services was delayed due to the contractor’s reported difficulties securing staff. At the request of Lazarus Project staff, the FY 2022 Agreement was amended to extend the term to September 30, 2023. Subsequently, Lazarus Project staff notified the Administration that they would not utilize the FY 2023 allocation of $100,000 due to challenges with staffing. As a result, the Administration explored alternatives to expend the allocated funds on similar services with an alternative service provider.
Camillus Health Concern, Inc.
On February 21, 2023, the Administration met with Camillus Health Concern, Inc. (“CHC”), a Federally qualified health center, to explore additional programs that would benefit chronically homeless individuals in Miami Beach. The Homeless Outreach Services team has referred several clients to CHC for medical treatment, mental health screenings, and medication management. In addition, CHC offers specialized services to address specific areas and issues related to homelessness and has been a Healthcare for the Homeless 330(h) grantee through the Bureau of Primary Healthcare since 1989 and was designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in 1966.
On April 28, 2023, the Administration submitted a referral to the Mayor and City Commission to discuss the proposed reallocation of funds.