This Request for Proposals (the “RFP”) is an invitation by the Regional Municipality of Niagara (“Niagara Region”) to prospective proponents to submit proposals for Niagara Homelessness Service System – Veteran Homelessness Program as further described in Section A of the RFP Particulars (Appendix B) (the “Deliverables”).

Niagara Region, as the Consolidated Municipal Service Manager (CMSM), is responsible for delivering and administering social and affordable housing and homelessness prevention services at the local level. The key responsibility as the service system manager is system planning and administration for the homelessness serving system, and it operates under rules established by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Niagara Region is also the Designated Community Entity for Veteran Homelessness Program, Infrastructure Canada. Niagara Region works to establish and maintain relationships with community agencies, governments and other interested and affected parties to set priorities and identify gaps, allocating resources to meet local needs, setting and implementing accountability and policy structures, performance measurement and work together to reduce Veteran homelessness in Niagara Region.

Multiple proponents may be awarded based on proposal evaluation and available funding. The Successful Proponents will provide targeted services to individuals identified or identifying as Veterans sleeping rough or using emergency shelter services. While engaging them in services, housing focused conversations will attempt to shorten the length of time the household/ individual experiences homelessness by expediting access to housing through connection to Veteran supports as applicable and with client consent. The program assesses vulnerability and housing barriers, to facilitate placement onto the by-name list to ensure access to permanent housing interventions. The program has no barriers and targets Veterans experiencing absolute homelessness across Niagara Region’s twelve geographic areas. A voluntary service model informed by harm reduction strategies is employed. 

This program is fully integrated into Niagara’s coordinated entry system. Assertive street outreach serves as an access point in Niagara Region Coordinated Access System to target unsheltered persons, including those who do not traditionally seek out assistance. Niagara Region’s standard assessments are used as part of coordinated entry to facilitate access to emergency shelter, housing, and essential services.   

The Veteran Homelessness Program aligns with best practices that promote housing attainment such as motivational interviewing, conflict resolution, harm reduction, trauma informed, critical time intervention, and housing-focused case management strategies, HIFIS, anti-racism anti-oppression, and offering culturally safe services for Indigenous people.

The Veteran Homelessness Program facilitates the connection of homeless Veterans to appropriate veteran supports towards permanent housing or housing interventions such as rapid re-housing, Housing First and permanent supportive housing. The Veteran Homelessness Program seeks to secure new housing opportunities either through independent housing location or supportive housing opportunities. Veteran Homelessness Program staff are knowledgeable about local housing resources and will assist in completing applications, gathering documents including identification, attending landlord interviews, and lease signings. Veteran Homelessness Program staff are knowledgeable about the unique population of Veterans and the specific opportunities that may exist in systems for previous military service.

The Successful Proponent(s) shall operate as part of Niagara Region’s Homelessness-Serving System, a group of agencies that provide housing and homelessness services. The Successful Proponent(s) will participate in activities with Niagara Region, the Consolidated Municipal Service Manager and other interested and affected parties to transform Niagara’s Homelessness- Serving System to achieve its future state, aligned with the Ten-Year Housing and Homelessness Action Plan, Niagara Region’s Homelessness Services System Reviews (i.e., Whitesell Report, Prevention Framework, Shelter Capacity Review)  and Built for Zero goals.

The Successful Proponent(s) will also work with Niagara Region to deliver the Veteran Homelessness Program as described in Schedule A (including “A-1”, “A-2”, “A-3”, “A-4”).