Diversion Specialist

Request for Proposals [on behalf of the Fairfield County Coordinated Access Networks] Announcement

Funding Available for a Diversion Specialist focused on serving households who are exiting from institutional settings like hospital, jail, etc. 

We are looking for (1) Diversion Specialist for Institutions with a focus on serving households who are at risk of entering homelessness after exiting from an institutional setting. The position will work in the Fairfield County CAN with an emphasis on Greater Bridgeport. Priority for this position will go to agencies with proven track record in serving households through Coordinated Entry. 
 

RFP #: CT0403
RFP ISSUE DATE: Wednesday October 15, 2025
DEADLINE FOR QUESTIONS: The deadline for questions is October 31, 2025, by 5pm. Questions and/or inquiries must be submitted in writing to Jessica Kubicki, Chief Initiative Officer, at jessica@thehousingcollective.org
PROPOSAL DUE DATE: Friday November 7, 2025 by 5pm
NOTIFICATION OF AWARD: November 21, 2025 
CONTRACT TERM: December 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026 
** Ongoing funding is contingent on HUD contracting
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION PROCESS: All applications must be submitted in Word format to: Lauren Sheehan, Chief Operating and Strategic Officer, at the following address: lauren@thehousingcollective.org
RFP WEBSITE: https://odi.thehousingcollective.org/funding/rfp-grants

A. BACKGROUND

a. The Housing Collective has released a funding opportunity made available through Opening Doors Fairfield County (ODFC) Continuum of Care (CoC) federal funding.

b. The Housing Collective is seeking a nonprofit organization to staff 1 Diversion Specialist for Institutions position serving households who are at imminent risk of entering homelessness post-discharge from an institutional setting like hospitals, jails, nursing homes, etc. The position will be positioned in the Fairfield County CAN with an emphasis on the Greater Bridgeport area. Priority for this position will go to agencies with proven track record in serving households in Coordinated Entry.

B. PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

a. To engage households in crisis who are coming into the Fairfield County Coordinated Access Network (FFC CAN) using the appropriate level of intervention needed to support their return to housing in the community. This position provides dedicated case management services to households and continuously engages clients in developing and realizing a plan to end their housing instability through diversion, shelter placement, rapid rehousing, and other interventions. People at the moment of crisis are provided community-based supports to reduce entries and shorten duration of homelessness. That takes place through exhaustive prevention and diversion efforts. The Diversion Specialist will bridge the gap between the time of crisis, entry into the Coordinated Access Network system, and the return to permanent housing in the community. 

C. POSITION DESCRIPTION

a. The Diversion Specialist for Institutions will:

i. Field calls from institutional settings who are working with clients that will be discharged to homelessness.
ii. Complete in person CAN assessments in the institution setting, if option is available, and maintain as the primary point of contact until their crisis is resolved (through shelter or housing). 
iii. Build working relationships with local institutional settings to strengthen referral sources. 
iv. Assess clients’ needs related to housing security and stability.
v. Proactively engage all clients in creative problem solving to identify and secure safe, viable housing opportunities outside of homeless system.
vi. Assess client safety and assist clients with meeting basic needs (food, clothing, hygiene, etc.).
vii. Work with households to collect all personal identification and documentation, income verification, homelessness verification, and disability verification (all when applicable and appropriate) and upload them into HMIS.
viii. Ensure clients are referred to and successfully linked to all appropriate resources as quickly as possible.
ix. Proactively form linkages with community providers, including emergency shelter, transitional housing and domestic violence shelters that serve the targeted population, security deposit providers, landlords, and others.
x. Work collaboratively with the CAN Team, FC CAN front entry team, and all participating members of Opening Doors Fairfield County.
xi. Attend meetings as necessary to inform key stakeholders of housing trends and barriers.
xii. Participate in trainings related to best practices and Coordinated Access Network system improvement- including but not limited to diversion, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, HMIS, domestic violence, etc. to ensure consistency across CAN and improved service delivery.
xiii. Maintain organized files and adhere to timely data entry into HMIS, Smartsheet, and/or other data system.
xiv. Participate in consistent feedback with the FC CAN Manager on system performance, trends, and barriers, and participate in all evaluation measures. 
xv. Engage consumers in feedback mechanism to ensure crisis response system can adequately address client needs.

D. BUDGET AND MATCH

a. The Housing Collective is in receipt of the following funds for the purpose of funding the position described herein:
     i. $85,000.00 per FTE totaling $85,000.00. 
b. Total Funding Proposed for Project: $85,000.00.  Organizations can apply for 1 FTE.
c. Provider must demonstrate ability to meet HUD’s 25% match requirement through cash or in-kind contributions.

E. PROPOSAL ELIGIBILITY 
a. Threshold requirements under this RFP: 
  i. Organization must provide activities limited to the jurisdiction established by both Opening Doors Fairfield County and the Fairfield County Coordinated Access Networks.
  A. Organizations eligible to apply for this funding must be located within this designated jurisdiction or have demonstrated success in serving populations residing in this area. 
  B. The position must be based in and primarily in service of Greater Bridgeport.
ii. Applicants must have experience with providing services to the CAN.
iii. Demonstrated ability to serve individuals and families at risk of homelessness with an emphasis on households who have utilized institution settings.
iv. This position will be primarily community based, with a minimum of 75% of all client engagement outside of the agency office. 
v. Funding is limited to increasing the staffing infrastructure to the CAN and cannot replace other funding for CAN activities already in place. Funds are identified for use to increase the existing staffing infrastructure only; use of funds for financial assistance is not permissible.
vi. Sub-contractors must provide a minimum level of staffing and service activities to ensure that this project is implemented appropriately and efficiently under the criteria established through this RFP. 
vii. The Housing Collective reserves the right to reject the submission of any respondent in default of a current or prior contract.
  b. Applicants will be expected to illustrate proficiency in the following as it relates to the target population: 
i. Strong organization skills and ability to coordinate and complete multiple tasks simultaneously.
ii. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including telephone communication. 
iii. Ability to work independently and with a group and maintain good working relationships with organizational staff and partners.
iv. Driver’s license and daily use of a reliable and properly registered and insured motor vehicle.
v. Strong computer skills.
vi. Must adhere to all professional standards and ethical practices, including creating and maintaining healthy boundaries and professional relationships with clients, co-workers, and others
  c. Master’s degree in social work or equivalent degree. Years of experience can substitute education requirements.

F. STAFFING AND SERVICE EXPECTATIONS
a. Contractor awarded will be expected to hire staff capable of performing housing services duties detailed herein as soon as possible.  Priority will be given to organizations that can demonstrate an immediate start upon execution of a subcontract. 
b. It is expected that leveraging services and resources from other front-line activities already in place within an applicant organization will be viewed as opportunities to capitalize on resources and may offer additional points when scored.
c. NOTE: no activities already in place, funded by DOH, the CoC, or the CAN can be replaced by these funds. 

G. REPORTING EXPECTATIONS
 a. It is expected that the selected organization will work with the Housing Collective to meet all reporting requirements as to be defined by Opening Doors Fairfield County (ODFC) in a timely and accurate manner.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

A. APPLICATION
 a. A responsive proposal must describe how the respondent will work collaboratively throughout the CAN region with community partners and other CAN partners and stakeholders to perform the activities required by this RFP. Proposals must include the following:

i. Organizational Background & Capacity
A. Mission, history, and relevant experience in PSH/homeless services.
B. Experience with HUD CoC grants and HMIS data entry.

ii. Staffing Plan
A. Proposed staff qualifications, experience, and supervision plan.
B. Staffing coverage during vacancies/turnover.

iii. Service Delivery Approach
A. Approach to trauma-informed, culturally responsive case management.
B. Strategies for assessment, service coordination, crisis intervention, and housing retention.

iv. Compliance & Data Management
A. Processes for ensuring compliance with HUD/CoC requirements.
B. HMIS data collection, reporting, and quality control procedures.

v. Performance Measurement
A. Plan for achieving and tracking performance standards.
B. Examples of prior outcomes demonstrating success in similar programs.

vi. Budget & Match

A. Proposed budget for delivering the services (aligning with $85,000 cap).
B. Description of cash or in-kind match contributions.

B. EVALUATION CRITERIA
 a. Proposals will be evaluated on the following:
   i. Demonstrated experience and organizational capacity.
  ii. Qualifications and experience of proposed staff.
 iii. Strength and clarity of service delivery approach.
 iv. Capacity for compliance, data management, and reporting.
  v. Feasibility and clarity of budget and match plan.

Ability to meet performance standards.