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Press and Video Press Releases Baltimore City Issues RFP for Millions of Dollars in Federal Stimulus Money
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BALTIMORE CITY ISSUES RFP FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY Baltimore, MD (July 6, 2009) – Today, Baltimore City’s Homeless Services and United Way of Central Maryland are issuing an RFP for the $9.5 million in federal stimulus money allocated to Baltimore under the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program. Part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the one-time funds will be available as early as September and must be used within three years. Baltimore Homeless Services chose to use the funds to help advance the goals of The Journey Home, its 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness. As part of that initiative, the city has partnered with United Way of Central Maryland, which acts as the fiscal agent of the plan and of the federal stimulus funds. “During this tough economic year, it is vital that we continue to serve our most vulnerable residents. The $9.5 million we have received in stimulus funds will help keep us on track to continue my administration’s mission to end homelessness in 10 years,” said Mayor Shelia Dixon. “I want to thank our Congressional delegation and President Obama for securing these funds and Baltimore Homeless Services and the United Way for facilitating these funds to the best organizations in our city.” Together, Baltimore City and United Way are working to ensure that homelessness is made rare and brief. The RFP being issued today will help create considerable movement in that effort. “We are proud to be working with the city on this effort. These types of partnerships can go a long way to ensure people remain safe, healthy and housed,” said Larry E. Walton, president of United Way of Central Maryland. “We look forward to helping not only the city, but the region, combat homelessness.” The maximum grant awards will be no greater than 10 percent of an organization’s budget with a maximum grant award of $1 million. Approximately 30 percent of the funds will be used for prevention and 60 percent for rapid re-housing. Special attention will be paid to populations that are traditionally difficult to serve in shelters, including large families (4 or more children), women with adolescent male children, men with children, unaccompanied youth and individuals who are medically fragile. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)3 nonprofits that provide services to the homeless population and currently receive funding from a Baltimore City agency. The funding decisions will be made by a committee of The Journey Home’s Leadership Advisory Group, a group of volunteers responsible for the implementation of the 10-Year Plan. A bidder’s conference will be held tomorrow in the city for prospective applicants. The RFP can be found here http://www.baltimorehousing.org/ # # #
About United Way of Central Maryland For more than 80 years, United Way of Central Maryland (UWCM) has been the region’s human service leader. Its mission is to improve people’s lives by mobilizing the caring power of our communities. UWCM supports programs and initiatives in the city of Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties. UWCM is dedicated to education, income and health & safety - making sure children get the early child care they need to succeed in school, that young adults graduate, that families have the means to access affordable and stable housing and that people are free from violence and abuse at home. By encouraging all people in central Maryland to give, advocate or volunteer, UWCM wants to show the power of living united. It’s about connecting people and creating communities. For more information, visit www.uwcm.org or call 410.547.8000. About Baltimore Homeless Services The mission of Baltimore Homeless Services is to make homelessness a rare and brief experience in Baltimore City by serving as a catalyst for the creation of affordable housing, Baltimore Homeless Services (BHS) was created in 1987 and is the entity that leads the Baltimore Continuum of Care and administers federal, state and city funding to over 60 nonprofit and faith-based organizations throughout the city. These organizations include emergency shelters, drop-in centers, transitional housing facilities and permanent housing programs. In 2008, Baltimore Homeless Services moved from the Health Department to the Mayor’s Office to implement Baltimore’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness. For more information, visit www.baltimorecity.gov/mayor or call 410.396.7370. |