City Releases RFP For Operator To Expand Homeless Services At The Old VA Hospital

NEW ORLEANS—The City of New Orleans released a national Request for Proposals (RFP) to find an operator to provide expanded homeless services at the former Veterans Affairs hospital. A nonprofit partner will be selected through a competitive process based on the organization’s experience and proven track record serving the homeless population.

         The RFP can be found here

         Earlier this week, the Mayor called on local and national service providers to submit proposals for the shelter.

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         Last month, the city announced plans to expand homeless services in a portion of the former Veterans Affairs hospital, 1530 Gravier St. The expansion will include 100 new overnight shelter beds on the floor above the Community Resource and Referral Center (CRRC), which currently serves as a homeless day shelter. The expanded, 24/7 comprehensive facility will allow low barriers to entry, including no admission fee or sobriety test, and will allow for a longer length of stay where homeless clients are supported by robust staffing and 24/7 security.

         This new facility is the cornerstone of Mayor Landrieu’s 2011 Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness, which has helped guide the city’s efforts to successfully reduce homelessness by 80 percent, city reps said.

         Earlier this year, the New Orleans City Council approved a 5-year Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA), which provides $1.5 million in annual funding for the new shelter split between the city, the Downtown Development District and the New Orleans Convention Center.

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         City reps said a robust, well-trained staff stationed at or working out of the shelter will include: medical professionals; housing navigators (focused on permanently housing homeless clients); coordinated entry personnel (focused on helping homeless clients access other services); residential monitors with training and 24/7 security personnel. Other services will include linkages to behavioral health counseling provided by Metropolitan Human Services District and other Medicaid billable services through Health Care for the Homeless.

 

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