CM Brooks-Powers on JISH funding reduction and RFP status
Brooks-Powers asks about the $10M reduction in JISH funding and the February RFP for new supportive housing. Martin explains the reduction reflects anticipated underspending, not service cuts. Nichols describes the amended RFP raising rates and adding congregate options.
And two final questions.
One, this executive plan includes a reduction of $10 million into School 26 for supportive housing.
Can the department explain the rationale for this reduction and what impact it will have on the
or any upcoming supportive housing projects.
And in February of this year, the department released an updated RFP to fund new supportive housing for people with behavioral health needs who have histories of incarceration and homelessness.
Can you provide an update on the status of this RFP and when we can expect to see the expansion of justice-involved supportive housing in our city?
Yeah, thank you for that question, Councilmember.
The $10 million reflects basically a one-time...
Savings from anticipated underspending.
This isn't reduction in any services.
This isn't taking away units.
It's not taking down housing.
Let me hand it to Assistant Commissioner Jamie Nichols.
Talk about that RFP in particular.
Thank you.
Thank you.
We released an amendment to the Justice Involved Supportive Housing RFP in February that raised the rates that we paid per unit and added a congregate option as well as scattered site.
So those proposals are rolling in and will be reviewed depending on what the proposals are and what's awarded.
That will determine the timeline for those units to become available.
So scattered site becomes available sooner.
You're just leasing on the common market, but congregate units take time to construct, and we don't yet know those construction timelines yet.
Thank you.
Thank you, chairs.
Thank you.
Okay, great.
And I think that is it for this portion for DOHMH.
So we thank you so much, Commissioner, and it's great to see all of your team members here and Deputy Commissioner.
So thank you so much.
And we'll send follow-up questions.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Okay, so we are going to roll right into H&H.
We're a little bit behind.
So hang tight, everyone.
We'll start in a few minutes.
And
I know you're waiting.
More boots here.