TUW issues RFA's

We're putting our money where our mouth is here at Triangle United Way. This year, the Triangle Community Care Cabinet has set aside $10,000 to be used on an initiative to end homelessness throughout the region. In addition, TUW was recently given an additional $10,000 to support a project in Wake County that employees chronically homeless individuals.

One of the region's initiatives at this point is on funding up to three agencies, one from each county to implement a Project Homeless Connect. Project Homeless Connect integrates lessons learned from one-stop service centers that provided community supports for Katrina evacuees seeking stabilization services in communities across the country. Similar one-day efforts of the Veterans Administration’s Homeless StandDowns also offered lessons that have made Project Homeless Connect a nationally identified best practice in helping the homeless.

Project Homeless Connect (PHC) is a one-day one-stop center designed to link homeless people with a broad range of needed services, including but not limited to housing, employment and health care. PHC is not an information fair, but instead engages homeless people directly into services. PHC provides unique opportunities for community volunteers to be directly involved in helping individuals and families make significant steps towards ending their homelessness. PHC also facilitates improved collaboration between community service agencies.

PHC Funds can be used to reimburse costs incurred in implementing a community PHC event that is held between August 1, 2007 and November 30, 2007. Triangle United Way strongly encourages that applicant agencies coordinate there local event with the two other counties eligible for this support. The PHC event must be open to all persons who meet HUD’s definition of homelessness. Eligible reimbursable expenses could include, but are not limited to,

- Space costs
- Phone and internet connectivity fees at the PHC location
- Transportation for homeless people to attend the event (ex. van rental)
- Staff time for coordination and planning of the PHC event. It is not assumed that all staff costs would be covered by the funds awarded by the Triangle United Way.

Funds are to be used to supplement, but not supplant, any existing financial commitments to a PHC event.

Funds will be made available on a reimbursement basis only.

Successful applicants will be required to submit a report on the outcomes of their PHC event within 30 days of their event, or by December 31, 2007.

The Scope of Work for the RFA employing chronic homeless individuals will include funding to complete the following:
· Personalized assessment of clients
· Placement, including the identification of potential employers
· Initial employment supports
· Collecting and reporting key data elements
· Completing a final report of activities