Safe & Stable Homes: Ending Family Homelessness Grant

Overview

United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County has set a goal to end family homelessness in our four-county community by the end of 2023. An end to family homelessness means that every community will have a comprehensive response in place that ensures homelessness is prevented whenever possible, or if it can’t be prevented, it is a rare, brief, and one-time experience. 

Since 2019, United Way has convened an advisory council of experts to examine all angles of homelessness, including root causes, people affected, and proven solutions. Through collaboration with this council, United Way has committed to fund the following four priorities in the 2024-2025 Safe & Stable Homes: Ending Family Homelessness grant cycle. 

• Legal Representation and Mediation Services: agencies applying for funding in this priority area must provide free legal or mediation services for families facing an eviction within Milwaukee County courts.
• Financial Assistance: agencies applying for funding in this priority area must provide families with financial assistance that is intended to prevent an eviction and/or keep a family stably housed. Examples include rent, rent arrears, or utility assistance, as well as security deposit or first month’s rent for families moving out of homelessness. Agencies that receive funding in this priority area must provide this service in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and/or Waukesha County. 
• Wraparound Supportive Services: agencies applying for funding in this priority area must provide services that improve a family’s chance of success once housed. Ideal target populations for this priority area include families in Rapid Rehousing programs or have moved into permanent housing within the past year. Examples include childcare support, financial coaching, life skills workshops, or protective payee programs. Agencies that receive funding in this priority area must provide this service in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and/or Waukesha County.  
• Tenant/Landlord Resource Center: agencies applying for funding in this priority area must demonstrate the ability to establish or maintain an online and/or physical resource center that provides resources and referrals to tenants facing eviction and to landlords considering filing an eviction. If services are provided online, they must include resources for Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha County. 

Criteria

• In the above priority areas, “families” is defined as any household with a dependent child under the age of 18.
• Grants will be available for organizations working towards one or more of the four priorities listed above.
• Agencies can assure that Safe & Stable Homes grant funds will only be invested in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, and/or Washington Counties.
• Agencies must be a 501(c)3 in good financial standing and operating as a 501(c)3 for at least one year.
• Agencies must have a board approved policy that states the organization does not discriminate based on social or economic class, gender, gender identity, age, sexual orientation and identification, disability, special health care needs, race or religion. Organizations with a religious affiliation must not refuse services to an applicant based on religion or require attendance at religious services as a condition of assistance.

2024-2025 Timeline

• March 18, 2024 - Letter of Intent application is open for submission.
• April 5, 2024 - Letter of Intent due by 4:30 p.m.
• April 12, 2024 - Agencies notified whether they have qualified to complete a full Request for Proposal (RFP) and receive instructions on how to complete and submit RFP via email.

For programs invited to submit a full application

• April 16, 2024 - RFP becomes available in e-CImpact.
• April 30, 2024, 1:00-3:00 pm - Optional "virtual office hours" for technical assistance and questions regarding completing the RFP. 
• May 10, 2024 - RFP and all attachments due by 4:30pm.
• July 1, 2024 - Project funding year starts and applicants are notified of award status.

Apply

The Safe & Stable Homes Letter of Intent is now closed.

Additional Information

Agencies invited to complete a full RFP that are not currently United Way Agency Program Partners will be required to submit:

• 501 (c) 3 Letter
• Completed Form W-9
• Most recent Audit Report & Management Letter for Audit Report
• If the agency does not conduct an Audit, they will be asked to submit the last two fiscal year-ending Financial Reviews OR unaudited fiscal-year ending financials (Balance Sheet & Statement of Activities)
• Most recent fiscal quarter financial report (Balance Sheet and Statement of Activities)
• Agency 990, 990EZ, or 990N (most recently completed)
• Current list of Agency Board of Directors

All programs will be required to submit a program logic model.

Grant requirements for agencies awarded funding

Uploads:
The following items will be required of all agencies invited to complete an RFP.

• Signed Grant Agreement
• Policy on Protecting Children (if agency serves children)

Outcomes Measurement:

• All funded programs will be asked to align with applicable U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness criteria and guideline measurements for ending family homelessness.
• Programs will be asked to provide the program participant outcomes they indicated measuring in their RFP.

Demographics:
All funded programs are required to report demographic information for all of the clients completing programming (including those that were not measured for outcome evaluation)

• Age Groups: 0 thru 3, 4 thru 5, 6 thru 11, 12 thru 17, 18 thru 24, 25 thru 34, 35 thru 44, 45 thru 54, 55 thru 64, 65 thru 74, 75 thru 84, 85 thru 94, 95 and over
• Gender: Male, Female, Transgender, Non-binary/Genderfluid/Prefer to self-describe, Prefer not to say
• Household Income: $0 to $9,999, $10,000 to $14,999, $15,000 to $24,999, $25,000 to $34,999, $35,000 to $44,999, $45,000 to $54,999, $55,000 to $64,999, $65,000 to $74,999, $75,000 to $84,999, $85,000 to $89,999, $90,000 or more, Free and reduced lunch (if income data is not available)
• Racial Background & Ethnicity: African American/Black (not Hispanic or Latino), Asian (not Hispanic or Latino), Caucasian/White (not Hispanic or Latino), Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern (not Hispanic or Latino), Native American (not Hispanic or Latino), Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (not Hispanic or Latino), Multi-racial, Other
• Veteran Status (Do you now or have you ever served in the Armed Forces?)
• Zip Codes of Residence

Timeline:

• July 15, 2024: Signed grant agreement and any additionally requested documents are due by 4:30 pm
• July 26, 2024: Distribution of first half of funding
• July 31, 2024, 9:00-10:30 am: Safe & Stable Homes roundtable with all awardees
• January 27, 2025: Mid-year report due by 4:30 pm
• February 7, 2025: Distribution of second half of funding
• June 30, 2025: Funding year ends
• August 25, 2025: Year-End Report due by 4:30 pm