The City contracts a variety of providers for the provision of emergency shelter services for homeless men, women and families with children. The City contracted its existing providers after issuing a Request For Proposals (RFP) in July 2013 and negotiating contracts with the three (3) responding parties as authorized by the City Commission at its February 12, 2014 meeting. The City contracted with the following providers as a result of the RFP:
· The Salvation Army (providing services for men, women and families with children)
· Camillus House (providing services to men)
· Sundari Foundation/ Lotus House (providing services to women and women with female children or male children to age 7)
The contracts provided for the following performance expectations from the shelter providers:
- Acceptance of the initial Care Plan submitted by the City at the time of client’s placement in shelter;
- Provision of weekly progress notes for clients placed in shelter;
- Ensuring that Care Plan timelines are met; and
- Notifying the City promptly if a client fails to meet the terms of his/her Care Plan.
At the time of the RFP issuance, the City was reorganizing homeless services and its overseeing department. The contracts resulting from the RFP were executed as soon as possible so as to ensure that shelter services were available as needed. However, the contract start dates began in May 2014 and were, therefore, out of synch with the City’s fiscal year. Miami Rescue Mission is also a shelter provider for the City. However, its contract runs with the fiscal year and ends on September 30, 2017.
For those contracts expiring on April 30, 2017, the Administration is requesting an extension of term to September 30, 2017. This extension of term will allow the City to align the new emergency shelter contracts with the City’s fiscal year. By doing so, the Administration can align all of its shelter contracts to the fiscal year and ensure accurate budget projections for all emergency shelter costs going forward. Currently, only the City’s contract with Miami Rescue Mission is aligned with the fiscal year.
The Administration has asked The Salvation Army, Camillus House, and Sundari Foundation/Lotus House to extend the term of their current contracts. Camillus House and The Salvation Army agreed to this extension. Sundari Foundation/Lotus House has declined.
The City is issuing an RFP for shelter services for the FY2016/17 budget year. Staff will work with local area shelters to encourage the widest submission of proposals possible to ensure that the City is prepared to offer suitable emergency shelter services to its homeless clients.