200 Housing Bridge Subsidy Administrator

The 200 Housing Bridge Subsidy Administrator grant, offered by the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS), represents a strategic effort by the state to enhance housing stability for individuals impacted by the Williams and Colbert Consent Decrees. These decrees are legal mandates requiring the state to provide appropriate community-based housing options for individuals with serious mental illnesses who were previously institutionalized. This grant program seeks qualified entities to serve as administrators of the Bridge Subsidy rental support program, ensuring that eligible individuals can transition into permanent supportive housing (PSH) environments. Through this funding opportunity, the DHS Division of Behavioral Health aims to contract up to four administrators to manage and facilitate monthly rental subsidies on behalf of eligible participants. Program administrators will coordinate payments between the state and landlords, support individuals during their housing transition, and maintain compliance with program requirements, including housing quality standards and consumer eligibility verification. The administrators are also expected to execute and manage Bridge Housing Assistance Payment (BHAP) contracts with landlords or property managers and ensure ongoing subsidy calculations that consider 30% of the consumer’s adjusted income. The grant's scope includes not only the financial administration of subsidies but also extensive coordination duties. Grantees must liaise with landlords, property managers, community mental health providers, and housing locators to ensure the consistent execution of housing inspections, document submission, contract management, and reporting. Moreover, administrators must establish robust systems for identifying housing opportunities, securing housing retention services, and tracking performance metrics such as the number of inspections completed and agreements signed. An emphasis is placed on achieving full compliance with state and HUD housing standards and ensuring timely and accurate disbursement of subsidies. While the funding is substantial, with an estimated total of $53,548,260 available and individual awards ranging from $528,000 to $28,238,034, there is no requirement for cost sharing or matching. Indirect costs are allowed with no specific caps, and funding is sourced entirely from state appropriations. The expected performance period begins on July 1, 2026, and continues through June 30, 2027, with renewal eligibility contingent upon prior performance and Departmental discretion. Historically, the average annual award under this program has been approximately $13.8 million, signaling its considerable scale and impact. Applications for this opportunity are due by March 3, 2026, at 12:00 PM Central Time. Applicants must submit a complete package including the Uniform Grant Application, a program narrative, budget documents, and all supporting materials via email to DHS.DBHR.GrantApp@Illinois.gov. Submissions must comply with specified formatting and include necessary pre-registrations in the SAM and GATA portals. No pre-application documents such as Letters of Intent are required for submission. While no technical assistance session will be held, applicants are encouraged to email questions to the DHS team, with responses being shared publicly. Applications will be evaluated through a merit-based review that considers program design, organizational qualifications, consumer-focused services, and data collection plans. Scoring will prioritize housing access and retention outcomes, collaboration with community partners, and demonstrated ability to manage large-scale housing subsidy operations. Following the review, successful applicants will receive a formal Notice of State Award and will be expected to comply with performance monitoring and administrative policies outlined in the Uniform Grant Agreement. The funding opportunity is not subject to federal Executive Order 12372 but adheres to state and federal cost principles and transparency guidelines.

Emphasize data tracking for housing retention, describe inspection systems, address all merit review scoring areas explicitly.