The Kissimmee City Commission on Oct. 20 approved a transition from its long-running competitive nonprofit grant process to an outcomes-based funding model called Safe Haven Connect, directing city staff to contract with local providers for housing placement, case management and coordinated outreach.

Deputy City Manager Desiree Matthews told commissioners the change shifts the city’s $400,000 nonprofit budget toward “strategic investments” that prioritize measurable housing outcomes and local coordination. The plan pairs city funding with a recently awarded $200,000 state grant to launch a community engagement unit to help public-safety officers connect people experiencing homelessness with services, Matthews said (transcript 4541.425–5572.135).

Why it matters: Commissioners said the new approach is intended to reduce duplicative services, strengthen ties to regional continuums of care and increase housing retention by tying payments to documented outcomes. The plan will also support mobile medical services, behavioral-health and substance-use supports, childcare scholarships and employment and financial-literacy services intended to sustain housing once placements occur.

What staff will do: Matthews said staff will release a letter of interest and re-open procurement to identify subrecipients that can deliver outreach, case management and mobile medical response. Over the next 45 days staff will finalize contract scopes, unit costs, outputs and reporting metrics and develop data infrastructure to track referrals, case IDs and HMIS linkages (transcript 5318.605–5360.83). The commission approved the transition plan and authorized staff to move forward.

Funding and timeline: The city’s current nonprofit budget is $400,000, with $100,000 coming from general funds to support capital needs at The Haven on Vine and related sustainability items. The state grant that backs the community engagement pilot expires in June 2026, and commissioners asked staff to plan for continuity after that funding ends (transcript 4635.78–5062.5947).

Commission response: Commissioners praised the move toward measurable outcomes and stronger coordination with local providers. The commission voted unanimously to approve the funding summarized in the transition plan (motion and vote recorded at transcript 5565.255–5572.135).

Next steps: Staff will convene a community services task force to coordinate local providers, finalize contracts and prepare outreach materials and information cards for commissioners and staff to hand to individuals in need. The city will also pursue HMIS linkages and clarify reimbursement and performance clauses for subrecipients (transcript 5361.0503–5412.44).

Provenance: Discussion introducing and approving the program begins at the Deputy City Manager’s presentation (transcript 4541.425) and concludes with the commission approval and next-step directions (transcript 5565.255–5572.135).