CDSS San Diego Newcomers Project

The California Department of Social Services, Refugee Programs Bureau, is offering the San Diego Newcomers Project through a Request for Application. The project was formerly known as the Wilson-Fish Project, which was established in 1990 by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement. The California Department of Social Services assumed administration and supervision of these services in 2019 through a public-private partnership with local resettlement agencies in San Diego County. The department will administer the San Diego Newcomers Project through one primary nonprofit grant recipient, which will implement the program in partnership with qualifying nonprofit subgrantees approved by the department. The grant term is January 1, 2027 through September 30, 2029, with services anticipated to begin April 1, 2027. The purpose of the San Diego Newcomers Project is to support the effective resettlement of refugees and other eligible noncitizens through culturally and linguistically appropriate services and to advance participants beyond self-sufficiency toward long-term integration in San Diego County. Under the leadership of the selected grantee, the project will provide Refugee Cash Assistance and Refugee Support Services to eligible RCA-type individuals and families who are not potentially eligible for CalWORKs. Eligible populations identified in the RFA include refugees, asylees, Cuban and Haitian entrants, Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrants, Amerasians, victims of human trafficking, certain Afghan Humanitarian Parolees, and certain Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees. Services are limited to eligible individuals and families residing in San Diego County. Program activities include cash assistance and support services. Refugee Cash Assistance is intended to help eligible individuals meet basic needs while pursuing employment and economic self-sufficiency and may be provided for up to the maximum number of months authorized by the Office of Refugee Resettlement. Refugee Support Services are designed to place employable individuals into appropriate jobs as quickly as possible, support household economic self-sufficiency, and provide other allowable services that advance long-term social integration. Refugee Support Services may be provided to eligible individuals for up to 60 months. The selected grantee must prepare Refugee Cash Assistance and Refugee Support Services work plans and operate under plans approved by the California Department of Social Services. Program funds must be used for allowable services and program goals. Budget deviations require prior written approval from the department. Estimated first-year funding is 1500000 dollars for Refugee Cash Assistance, including cash assistance pass-through, and 1388963 dollars for Refugee Support Services, for a combined first-year estimate of 2888963 dollars. Funding amounts are determined annually and depend on factors including actual and anticipated Refugee Cash Assistance caseloads, annual Refugee Support Services formula allocations to states, and other factors. Federal fiscal year funding is contingent upon the state's receipt of sufficient federal funds. Applicants must submit reasonable and justifiable proposed budgets based on anticipated administrative costs and the estimated number of individuals to be served. Organizations may charge an indirect rate as a percentage of total administrative and cost-per-individual-served expenses. The RFA does not state a required applicant cost share or matching contribution. The selected grantee may invoice monthly and may request, subject to department approval, a quarterly advance payment not exceeding 25 percent of the annual fiscal year amount. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations meeting the specified tax-exempt requirements, registered as active legal businesses with the California Secretary of State, and current charities with the California Department of Justice. Applicants cannot be listed on specified California delinquent taxpayer lists. Organizations must be located in and able to serve eligible populations in San Diego County and have at least five years of experience providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services to immigrant communities, including Office of Refugee Resettlement refugee and other eligible noncitizen populations in San Diego County. Applicants must demonstrate successful management of a grant of equal or greater size, sufficient infrastructure to administer California Department of Social Services funding, and the capacity to increase case management and support during periods of increased eligible arrivals. Applications will be screened for completeness, credibility, and eligibility, and eligible applications will be evaluated for a potential final award. Evaluation factors include eligibility, staffing capacity, organizational oversight and administrative capacity, service needs, capacity to assist target populations, language and cultural competence, expertise serving eligible immigrant newcomers, organizational experience and partnerships, management systems, sustainability, staff expertise, and historical performance. Past performance on department-funded programs may also be considered. Funding decisions are at the sole discretion of the California Department of Social Services and cannot be appealed. The department may reject any or all applications, cancel the RFA, or solicit additional applicants. The selected organization is expected to receive a Notice of Intent to Award on October 15, 2026, with grant agreement preparation and execution anticipated by December 1, 2026. The RFA was released August 19, 2026. A public briefing is scheduled for August 27, 2026, and questions are due September 3, 2026, with answers expected on the RFA webpage September 11, 2026. A complete application must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on September 18, 2026 to RefugeePolicy@dss.ca.gov with the subject line SDNP Application Submission. Applicants must submit the RFA Application, Attachment 1, as required PDF documents and the RFA Proposed Budget, Attachment 2, in Excel format without altering its existing formulas or structure, although lines may be added if needed. Incomplete, late, or altered application forms will not be accepted. Questions regarding the RFA may be directed to RefugeePolicy@dss.ca.gov. The Refugee Programs Bureau may also be reached at 916-654-4356. After award, the grantee must comply with monthly check-ins, monthly reporting, semi-annual reporting, invoicing, and other department requirements throughout the grant term.

Demonstrate at least five years of culturally and linguistically appropriate service experience with immigrant communities in San Diego County; document strong partnerships and direct-service experience; demonstrate board oversight, program leadership, administrative systems, accounting and budgeting capacity, data and reporting systems, grant or case management systems, quality control, and sustainability; show sufficient staffing expertise, capacity, and linguistic and cultural competence; document successful past grant performance and timely reporting and invoicing; submit complete and unaltered required forms by the deadline.