DOH Issues RFA for Senior Supportive Housing Services Projects

LeadingAge NY is pleased to report that the New York State Department of Health (DOH) has released a Request for Applications (RFA) to establish Senior Supportive Housing Services Projects to serve low-income, Medicaid-eligible seniors who reside in the community and who are at risk of nursing home placement or are homeless, or seniors who are transitioning out of nursing homes into community living and require long term care services. 

For purposes of this RFA, a senior supportive housing services project is defined as the pairing of capital assistance and supportive services within existing senior housing communities.  This concept stems from the Medicaid Redesign Team Affordable Housing Work Group.  LeadingAge NY serves on this work group and has persistently advocated to ensure that  funds are made available to support low-income seniors.  We have argued that investments in affordable senior housing will help save Medicaid dollars by preventing or delaying nursing home placement and reducing the utilization of Medicaid-covered services.  We are delighted to announce this opportunity, which we believe will assist our affordable housing providers to support their low-income residents to age-in-place. 

Applications are due by May 15, 2014 by 4 p.m., and can be viewed here.  Letters of interest and questions regarding the RFA are due by April 4, 2014, and the DOH intends to provide answers on or around April 11. All substantive questions must be submitted by email to: mrtsupportivehousing@health.state.ny.us. All questions submitted by email should list “Senior Supportive Housing Services RFA” in the subject line.

Below is a summary of key aspects of the RFA; however interested parties are urged to review the RFA carefully for complete information about the opportunity and application requirements.

Objective of Grant

The goal of this grant is to ensure that affordable, accessible senior supportive housing services are made available to New York’s low-income, Medicaid-eligible seniors who are homeless or reside in the community and are at risk of nursing home placement, and to seniors transitioning out of nursing homes into community living who require long term care services.
The RFA outlines the following objectives for funded projects:

1. Develop an innovative, high quality model to increase accessibility within existing U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) senior housing units as well as other senior housing units. Features will include universal design modifications, renovation and reconfiguration. Funding will be available to increase the stock of affordable and accessible housing units available to Medicaid-eligible seniors through capital assistance (budgeted under contractual services).

2. Conduct needs assessment with current residents of senior housing to identify the types of supportive services necessary to assist residents to remain in their current housing units. Develop supportive services which will assist residents’ ability to live independently in the community.

3. Develop an in-reach mechanism within existing senior housing community to identify current residents who are Medicaid-eligible, and at risk of nursing home placement. Develop a plan to determine if current resident(s) may safely remain in their housing unit with the addition of increased accessibility features and/or available supportive services. Modify housing units and provide support services to current residents.

4. Develop an outreach mechanism to identify low-income Medicaid-eligible seniors who currently are homeless or reside in the community (not currently in low income senior housing), and who are at risk of nursing home placement and seniors who wish to transition out of nursing homes into community living who require long term care services. Develop and implement a plan to assist these eligible seniors to obtain low income senior housing with increased accessibility features and supportive services.

5. Develop outcome measures and evaluation criteria which will assist DOH in determining the value of the pilot project and senior supportive housing services best practices for the target population.

6. Develop a process for data collection and reporting, including completing the Supportive Housing Data Collection Tool and submitting such data to the Department on a monthly basis.

(RFA, p. 4-5).  Applicants may subcontract for components of the scope of work.  Applicants that plan to subcontract are expected to state in the application the specific components of the scope of work to be performed through subcontracts.

Eligibility

According to the RFA, eligible applicants are not-for-profit or government agencies located in New York that have direct experience providing housing and/or supportive housing services to the target population.  Applicants should have at least two years organizational and individual staff experience in the following areas or demonstrate the capability to establish contractual relationships with one or more subcontractors having such experience as:

• Expertise and experience in working with, Medicaid-eligible seniors;
• Expertise and experience understanding issues concerning Medicaid-eligible seniors regarding their Long Term Care (LTC) needs; and
• Expertise and experience in the field of affordable, sustainable, accessible and integrated housing.

(RFA, p. 6).

Awards

DOH plans to fund up to eight projects for a two-year term with no renewals anticipated. The anticipated contract start date is July 1, 2014 and is expected to end on June 30, 2016. The total anticipated amount available for this procurement is up to $4 million (up to $2 million per year for two years). Applicants may request up to $250,000 per year for the two year period.  Please note that funding is contingent on state appropriations and may be reduced.

Conclusion

We encourage members to consider applying for this opportunity.  LeadingAge NY applauds DOH for recognizing that housing is a foundation for health and for recognizing the importance of affordable housing for seniors in this paradigm. This initiative is a critical step in demonstrating that investments in affordable senior housing can result in significant Medicaid savings.  During a time when federal funding for subsidized senior housing and support services is dwindling, it is critical that the effectiveness of housing with supportive services be formally demonstrated. LeadingAge NY members are well-positioned to pilot innovative housing with services programs.

Contact: Ken Harris, kharris@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8383, ext. 139; Diane Darbyshire, ddarbyshire@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8828