Homeless Trust approves RFAs, fiscal-agent solicitation, property conveyance and youth intake standards

The Miami‑Dade County Homeless Trust voted to: (1) issue a request for applications (RFA) to fund services with food‑and‑beverage tax revenues and state funding; (2) issue an RFA and solicit a single fiscal agent to administer certain HUD rental‑assistance grants and ratify a technical‑assistance contract; (3) request county approval to accept conveyance of a six‑unit residential property from the City of Miami with $600,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) rehab funding; and (4) adopt youth‑specific coordinated entry standards of care tied to an $8.4 million HUD grant.

The votes were taken by voice and the chair declared each motion adopted. No roll‑call tallies were recorded in the transcript; each motion was approved after a motion, a second, and a voice “aye.”

Why it matters: the RFA and fiscal‑agent actions set the procurement path for homelessness services funded by local food‑and‑beverage taxes, state grants and more than $18 million in HUD rental‑assistance funds; the conveyance would transfer a city property for rehabilitation into affordable units targeted to people experiencing homelessness; the youth coordinated entry standards formalize how unaccompanied youth aged 18–24 are assessed and referred under a HUD award.

What the Trust approved

- Food and beverage RFA: Staff reported current provider contracts end Sept. 30 under a three‑year cycle and that the RFA (posted May 12) solicits providers for outreach (including specialized outreach), discharge planning, emergency shelter, rapid re‑housing, permanent housing and homelessness prevention. Applications are due June 16; a selection committee will meet in mid‑June and recommendations will come back to the Trust. The Trust voted to ratify issuance of the RFA.

- Fiscal agent and technical assistance RFA: The Trust said it manages multiple HUD rapid‑rehousing and permanent supportive housing grants and currently uses a mix of subrecipients and county contracts to deliver tenant‑based rental assistance (TBRA) and project‑based rental assistance (PBRA). Staff recommended issuing an RFA to select a single fiscal agent to administer portions of the Trust’s TBRA/PBRA portfolio (grants totaling more than $18,000,000) to better align rents with market levels, reduce subrecipient cash‑flow risk and maximize household coverage. The Trust also ratified a technical assistance contract with Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC) for up to $38,000 to support the procurement and implementation. The motion passed.

- City property conveyance: Staff described a two‑story residential building at 60 First Street and 13th Avenue (3,264 sq. ft., six one‑bedroom units on a 5,300 sq. ft. lot, built in 1958) that the City of Miami has approved for conveyance to the Trust and committed $600,000 in CDBG funds for rehabilitation. The Trust voted to approve pursuing the transfer and forwarding the matter to the Miami‑Dade County Board of County Commissioners for final approval.

- Youth coordinated entry standards: The Trust adopted youth‑specific coordinated entry standards of care required by an $8.4 million HUD grant to serve unaccompanied youth and young adults ages 18–24 (a roughly 24–30 month program). The standards set access, assessment, prioritization and referral rules and designate an SSOP provider (Educate Tomorrow) to take calls through the homeless helpline, emphasize diversion where appropriate, and lead by‑name case conferencing.

Process and record: Each motion was moved and seconded on the record; the transcript records voice votes with the chair asking “All in favor signify by saying aye,” followed by “Aye” and “Motion is adopted.” No roll‑call vote or per‑member tallies were included in the meeting transcript.

Next steps: Staff will proceed with the RFAs and procurement steps described, present recommendations to the Trust after the selection committee meets in mid‑June, and transmit the City property transfer request to the Board of County Commissioners for final action.