Draft Request for Qualifications - Weather Response for Persons Experiencing Homelessness

Draft RFQ This is a DRAFT RFQ. The goal of this is to gather feedback from the community in advance of launching a formal request for qualifications to partner with community based organizations around this project area. The services that we are hoping to partner with community-based organizations around are: Cooling and Warming Centers Weather Respite Centers Supply Partner Additional shelter bed capacity More information around each of these services can be found in the project details section. During the full RFQ process (which will happen after this Draft closes), there will be a vendor questionnaire and budget form for community partner submission. Community partners will also have the opportunity to opt in or out of which services they are interested in providing. The results of this process will help inform the County around these program areas. The Sacramento County of Department of Homeless Services and Housing (DHSH) is releasing this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking applications from qualified organizations interested in operating and/or providing services during inclement weather in Sacramento County. Statement of Need According to the Homeless Point in Time (PIT) Count of 2022, more than 9,200 individuals are experiencing homelessness in Sacramento County, 72% percent of whom are unsheltered. The impacts of climate change are felt most acutely by those community members most regularly exposed to the elements. Persons experiencing homelessness, particularly those living unsheltered, experience disproportionate health and safety impacts from Sacramento County's rain, cold, wind, heat and air quality. In addition, we understand warming and cooling centers specifically will be utilized by a diversity of community members (housed and unhoused) impacted by the inclement weather. As a result, Sacramento County's Department of Homeless Services & Housing is exploring partnerships with community-based organizations to support the health and safety of persons experiencing homelessness during weather events.