State Announces Request for Proposals for Collaborative Workforce Solutions to Address Homelessness
Labor Commits $500,000 to Launch New Homeless Jobseeker Initiative
BALTIMORE, MD (February 14, 2022) - Today, the Maryland Department of Labor (Labor), in partnership with the Maryland Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH), announced that it is now accepting proposals to help organizations develop and implement innovative strategies that integrate workforce and housing resources to support job seekers experiencing homelessness or in need of eviction prevention. Proposals will be due on June 17, 2022, and awards will be made in September of 2022.
The pilot was established as a result of recommendations developed by the ICH, which is tasked with examining statewide initiatives and recommending policy solutions to end homelessness in Maryland. Recognizing the holistic needs of jobseekers experiencing housing instability, this competitive grant requires applicants to establish partnerships across systems to align and coordinate the delivery of employment and related services in a way that takes a whole-person approach. Required stakeholders include organizations with expertise in serving individuals experiencing homelessness, workforce development providers, and employer partners.
“In an era when the labor market is rapidly shifting to adapt to changes brought on by the pandemic, bold and creative solutions are needed to prevent Maryland residents from entering homelessness. The strategies from this collaboration will not only support residents who are currently experiencing homelessness, but also help place them on a pathway toward economic stability,” said Secretary Robinson. “I want to express my gratitude to the members of the ICH for their leadership and steadfast partnership on this exciting initiative.”
Grant awards are capped at $200,000 and projects are expected to last up to three years with an option of six months for planning and program development. Successful applicants will incorporate at least one intervention that has been identified as a promising practice by the ICH in their program design.
“Although Maryland has seen a significant decrease in the number of individuals experiencing homelessness for several years, COVID-19 has fueled an uptick in the prevalence of homelessness across the state,” said Maryland Department of Disabilities Secretary and ICH Chair Carol Beatty. “We need cross-systems collaboration that weaves together workforce development, housing, and other supportive services to thoroughly address this issue.”
A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held virtually on March 2, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. For more information about the initiative and for a link to the Solicitation for Demonstration Grant Proposals, please visit: Maryland’s Workforce Development Response to Homelessness Across the State webpage.
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