The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development and operation of transitional treatment apartment housing programs for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) who are justice-involved. This program aims to support individuals pending release, recently released from incarceration, or under community supervision (probation, parole, or court-mandated supervision). The initiative seeks to provide stable housing and connect recipients to community-based mental health and social services, including Safe Options Support Teams, Assertive Community Treatment, and other specialized forensic and mental health programs.

The program will establish ten treatment apartment housing programs across various counties in New York State, with each program expected to provide ten scattered-site units. These counties include Bronx, Broome, Dutchess, Kings, Monroe, Oneida, Onondaga, Schenectady, Ulster, and Westchester. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit agencies with 501(c)(3) status and experience providing mental health services to individuals with SMI and justice involvement. Special consideration will be given to agencies with a history of operating housing programs or Assertive Community Treatment teams. Priority placement in these housing units will be given to individuals under active Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) orders.

Applicants are required to notify the Local Governmental Unit (county director of community services) in each county they intend to serve. They must also be prequalified in the New York State Statewide Financial System (SFS) before submission. Proposals must be submitted online through the SFS portal by May 1, 2025, at 2:00 PM EST. Key events leading up to this deadline include the release of the RFP on March 13, 2025, submission of questions by March 27, 2025, and responses to those questions posted on the OMH website by April 10, 2025. Award notifications are anticipated by June 5, 2025, with the contract start date set for October 1, 2025.

The program is designed to provide comprehensive supportive services to individuals with complex needs, including co-occurring substance use and physical health disorders. The services will include skills training, community reintegration support, and peer support services. Housing units will be scattered-site rentals, primarily studios or one-bedroom apartments. The expected length of stay is approximately 12 months, with an emphasis on transitioning individuals to more independent housing options. Agencies are encouraged to cluster apartments around a central hub to foster community engagement and support services.

The funding model includes a combination of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid funding, as well as state aid of $10,000 per bed per year for Downstate programs and $9,000 per bed per year for Upstate programs. Additional Program Development Grant (PDG) funds will be available at a rate of $9,677 per bed to assist in the establishment of these units. The program does not include capital funding for property acquisition or renovation.

Proposals will be evaluated based on technical merit and financial assessment, with a total score of 100 points. Evaluation criteria include program description (50 points), agency performance (10 points), diversity, equity, and inclusion (10 points), and financial assessment (30 points). A minimum score of 70 points is required to be considered for funding. Award determinations will be made based on the highest-scoring proposals per county. If all units are not awarded, remaining units will be reallocated based on county need and applicant willingness to accept additional units.

All communication regarding this RFP must be directed to the designated issuing officer, Jeremy Rossello, at OMHLocalProcurement@omh.ny.gov. Questions about eligibility will only be addressed through the formal Q&A process. Proposals that do not meet eligibility criteria or submission requirements will be disqualified.