Application deadline: 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, 2017.

Background
The Minnesota State Legislature has authorized Minnesota Housing to operate a rental assistance program for people with a Serious Mental Illness (SMI). Minnesota Housing works in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Mental Health Division (MHD) to foster the integration of people with SMI into their communities through housing subsidies provided by the Bridges program. 

The rental subsidy is temporary and is intended to bridge the housing gap between treatment centers, institutional facilities, and homelessness to permanent affordable housing. Local partnerships with mental health agencies provide access to supportive services to help households with housing stability. 

Bridges supports the state’s goals under the Olmstead Implementation Plan and The Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. Additional information, including the program guide, is available on the Bridges webpage.

Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are a Housing Agency (HA) with demonstrated experience managing a state or federal rental assistance program, or other low-income housing. Tribal nations are eligible applicants. In order to be eligible, the application must also include representation of a Local Mental Health Entity (LMH Entity) that will collaborate with the HA to implement the Bridges program.  

Each county’s Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA) operates under the authority of the county. A tribal nation mental health program will operate under the authority of the tribal government. An LMHA county, LMHA counties, tribal nation(s), or LMHA and tribal nation(s), may organize as an Adult Mental Health Initiative (AMHI). These three authorities (LMHA, Tribal Nation Mental Health program, and AMHI) are collectively defined as the LMH Entity, which coordinates the local mental health system. Responses to questions on this application require the expertise of both the HA and the LMH Entity to complete.  

Application Instructions 
•	Upload items 1 through 7 on the Checklist of Application Materials to the online Multifamily Secure Upload Tool no later than 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, 2017. Using the online tool, send items to mhfa.app@state.mn.us. Upload required documents in the original format; do not convert the documents into PDF or other formats. A signature is not required on the electronic document. Review the Upload Tool Instructions for more information.
•	Sign and mail the Bridges Program Application (this document) postmarked no later than Tuesday, March 28, 2017 to the address below. Multiple signature pages with separate signatures are permitted. Faxed or copies of signatures are also permitted. 
Minnesota Housing
		400 Sibley Street, Suite 300
		St. Paul, Minnesota  55101
		Attn: Carrie Marsh, Bridges Program

Additional Items (if application approved for funding)
If your application is approved for funding, the following due diligence items will be required:
•	A signed original or certified copy of the Board Resolution specific to the grant, including the grant amount and authorized individuals to sign and enter into grant agreements
•	Certificate of Insurance with Employee Dishonesty/Crime Coverage in the amount of at least one-eighth of the total amount of the grant
•	Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) form, if not currently on file
•	Approved Waiting List Selection Plan
•	Signed Cooperative Agreement between the Housing Agency and the Local Mental Health Entity
•	Certificate of Good Standing (if applicable, required only for non-governmental organizations)
•	Evidence of Ownership documents and certificate of occupancy (if applicable, for project-based)

Application Review Criteria

Priority is given to Housing Agencies currently operating a Bridges program, or proposing to serve a currently unserved area. Proposals will be scored based on need, capacity, partnerships, and ability to reach the intended population.

Questions?
Carrie Marsh, Bridges Program Manager: 651.215.6236 or carrie.marsh@state.mn.us
Jennifer McNertney, DHS Adult Mental Health: 651.431.2334 or jennifer.mcnertney@state.mn.us 

Bridges Rental Assistance Program
Application for Funding
July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2019

I.	Program Type
This application is for (choose one): 
	Existing Bridges scattered-site program
	New Bridges scattered-site program
	New Bridges site-based program

II.	Applicant Information

 	Housing Agency	Local Mental Health Entity
(An AMHI, Tribal Nation Mental Health program, or LMHA)	
Organization Name	     	     	
Contact Person 	     	     	

III.	Funding Request
First, complete the Bridges funding request workbook. Then, answer the questions below using specific examples.  
A.	Describe your request for funding in a few sentences. Describe any changes from previous grants, if applicable, including changes to the number of households, average cost, etc. 
      

B.	How did you calculate the requested average monthly rental subsidy?  
     

C.	Describe any policies regarding the use of Bridges funds for security deposits. What resources besides Bridges are available to fund security deposits in your service area? 
     

D.	Describe the staffing for the Housing Agency to manage the Bridges program. Include position(s), FTE, and job tasks. 
     

Position	Total FTE dedicated to Bridges	Job Tasks	
     	     	     	
     	     	     	
     	     	     	

E.	Describe how the LMH Entity was involved in this funding request. Include the names of people and their positions.  
     

IV.	Bridges Participants and Referrals
Bridges Rental Assistance has specific required priorities within the eligible population of adults with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) who are experiencing housing instability. Waiting list guidance is available in the Program Guide. Please create a draft Waiting List Selection Plan according to this guidance and include it as part of your application. Minnesota Housing and DHS-MHD will review your draft as part of this application review process and provide feedback.  
	
A.	Approximately how many households in your service area would qualify annually under the Bridges waiting list priorities? Please give a range, and only include households that are eligible for Bridges.  
1.	People residing in an institution or other segregated setting who will be homeless upon discharge: 
     
2.	Households experiencing homelessness who have been assessed as needing permanent supportive housing by Coordinated Entry: 
     
3.	Households experiencing or at imminent risk of homelessness:
     

B.	Describe any additional indicators of need in the service area. 
     

C.	What agency(ies) will accept referrals to the Bridges program? What organizations will make referrals? Describe the process for referral and application to the Bridges program.  
     

D.	Coordinated Entry is required as a referral source for households experiencing homelessness. Describe this referral process, if not included in the previous question. If you do not have a process in place, please describe what steps you have taken or plan to take in order to establish this new referral process.  
     

E.	How will the Housing Agency or LMH Entity ensure that people residing in an institution or other segregated setting who will be homeless upon discharge have first priority for the Bridges program? Include information about outreach to eligible potential participants and about strategies and resources to increase service opportunities to support tenancy for this group of people.  
     

F.	How will the waiting list for Bridges be managed? What agency will manage the Bridges waiting list? Will there be a limit to how many people can be on the waiting list?   
     

G.	Describe the process for a briefing session or meeting at which the eligible applicant receives an explanation of the program and instructions for leasing an eligible unit. What rules or policies apply? 
     
V.	Scattered-Site Program
Bridges is currently administered across the state as a scattered-site voucher program, where households may choose their apartment from privately owned units in the open market, like the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. If you are proposing this type of project, please answer the questions below.  Project-based proposals skip to Section X.  

A.	What counties or tribal nations will be included in your Bridges program service area? If only a portion of the county or tribal nation is included, please specify. 
     	

B.	If your program service area covers more than one county or tribal nation, please answer the following: 
1.	Describe how funds will be distributed across the service area. Identify if there are set-asides and the amount for each area. 
     
2.	In what ways will you collaborate with other housing agencies in your service area? Describe roles and responsibilities within the Bridges program. 
     

C.	Describe the availability of affordable housing units that meet the Housing Quality Standards (HQS) in your program service area. Does current rental housing in the service area generally meet the HQS standard? Are there sufficient units that are priced at or under the local payment standard?
     

D.	Describe your existing relationships with landlords who will likely be interested in leasing apartments to Bridges participants. What actions does the Housing Agency or LMH Entity take in order to create and maintain these relationships? 
     

E.	What assistance is available to help Bridges participants locate and obtain eligible apartments?      

VI.	Collaboration with Mental Health Services
Housing Agencies who have been awarded Bridges grants are required to participate in Local Mental Health Entity meetings at least twice a year and must have a collaborative relationship in order to best serve people with SMI who are experiencing housing instability. The LMH Entity should answer the following questions. 

A.	Identify organizations or agencies in your service area that provide in-home mental health services (e.g., case management, ACT, ARMHS) and the services offered. 
      

B.	How will the LMH Entity work with the local Continuum of Care and the Coordinated Entry process to engage eligible households who are experiencing homelessness and may not be participating in mental health services?  
     

C.	What housing stability services will be provided to participants? Please include the type of service, the providing agency and the funding source. Identify one or more successful strategies to promote housing stability for households at risk of losing their housing. 
     

D.	What reengagement strategies will you use for individuals not participating in services but who demonstrate instability in their mental health?  
     

E.	What assistance will be offered to help participants obtain SSI or SSDI? Please be specific of the agency and staff role that will provide this assistance and what type of service they will provide.  
     

F.	What education or employment services will be offered? Please be specific of the agency and staff role that will provide this assistance and what type of service they will provide. 
     

G.	How will Bridges participants be provided opportunity for choice in the selection of his/her mental health service provider?  
     

H.	In what ways do the Housing Agency and LMH Entity work together to ensure Bridges participants apply for and are able to transition to a Section 8 HCV or another rental subsidy when it becomes available?  
     

I.	In what ways do the Housing Agency and LMH Entity work together to leverage or interact with other housing and service resources for which applicants may be eligible? Be specific as to the type of resource and how it is strategically used. Please include information regarding community-based Group Residential Housing, if applicable. 
     

VII.	Increasing Access 
The Bridges program serves persons who are experiencing homelessness or who are at imminent risk of homelessness. Due to their housing and disability status, these individuals and families often encounter difficulties with certain processes or policies. Wherever possible, Bridges works to be flexible in order to assist households to gain housing stability. Please refer to the Foundational Service Practices in the Bridges program guide. The Housing Agency should answer the following questions.

A.	What expertise does Housing Agency staff have related to working with individuals with mental illness who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability? What types of training or education about mental illness would help strengthen Housing Agency staff expertise for serving people with mental illness?  
      

B.	Describe any changes within the last two years to Housing Agency policies or practices that facilitate increased access to Bridges or promote continued participation in the program.  
     

C.	Describe the Housing Agency policies for in-person appointments or annual re-certifications to maintain housing assistance. What accommodations are available to people who have difficulty completing this process?  
     

D.	Is communication provided to Bridges applicants and participants in a variety of methods (e.g., mail, email, text, phone call)? Please describe how the Housing Agency attempts to contact households for initial and follow-up communication. Include any relevant policies. 
     

E.	Is communication from the Housing Agency regarding tenancy (e.g., re-certification notices, termination notices) shared with the LMH Entity or the mental health service provider? Please describe how often and under what circumstances this occurs.  
     

F.	What, if any, criminal history screening does the Housing Agency require for the Bridges program?  What types of criminal or rental history disqualify someone from being eligible? 
     

G.	Identify any existing barriers for people to apply for or maintain participation in the Bridges program. What solutions would you consider implementing in order to create greater flexibility?      

VIII.	Additional Comments 
A.	Please address any other issues or local context that you think is important for us to know. Include how Bridges funding makes a difference in your community.  
     

IX.	Cooperative Agreement 
A Cooperative Agreement between the Housing Agency and the Local Mental Health Entity is required for the grant term from July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2019. A draft Cooperative Agreement must be submitted with the application and a revised, final signed agreement will be required as part of the due diligence.   

The Cooperative Agreement must contain:
A.	Each organization’s roles and responsibilities 
B.	Schedule of meetings
C.	A crisis response plan for participants
D.	A plan to receive referrals from Coordinated Entry for households experiencing homelessness
E.	A plan to reach out to people currently in institutions who are eligible for the Bridges program
F.	Signatures by executives from each organization participating in the Cooperative Agreement 

An outline of a Sample Cooperative Agreement is available online.  

X.	Project-Based Program (if applicable)
Bridges may be used to provide project-based rental assistance, dedicated to a specific building or group of buildings. If you are proposing this type of project, please answer the questions below. Scattered-site proposals may skip to Section XI.  

A.	Indicate if you have a specific building(s) identified or if the applicant plans to purchase a building or partner with a developer.  
     

B.	If you have a building(s) identified, please describe the building: 
1.	Address:      
2.	Number of units:      
3.	Bedroom size and square footage of each unit:      
4.	Current rents:      
5.	Is the building currently occupied?      
6.	Owner:      
7.	Property manager:       
8.	Additional information:      

C.	What funds are currently used at the building to support operations and/or rents? 
     

D.	Are there units currently designated for people with disabilities or for those who are homeless?      

E.	Will tenants have their own unit and their own lease?  
     

F.	Are there any rules beyond a standard lease agreement, such as required participation in services?      

G.	Is there a time limit for how long people can live there?  
     

H.	How will Bridges participants transition to another permanent rental subsidy? Will they be allowed to remain in their unit? Please include specific information. 
     

XI.	Checklist of Application Materials 
Please check that all required items have been submitted. Upload all of the following required items below using the online Multifamily RFP & Pipeline Applications Qualification Forms & Attachments Upload Tool, to mhfa.app@state.mn.us. 

1.	   	Funding Request Workbook
2.		Bridges Program Application (this document)
3.		Draft Cooperative Agreement 
4.		Proposed Bridges Waiting List Selection Plan
5.		Current Local Payment Standards (for each part of the service area)
6.		Rental Assistance Qualification Form 216A
7.		Provide evidence of most recent Section Eight Management Assessment Program (SEMAP)     
              score, or other evidence of rental assistance administration performance

In addition to uploading all of the above documents, sign and mail a hard copy of the Bridges Program Application to the following address:
Minnesota Housing
		400 Sibley Street, Suite 300
		St. Paul, Minnesota  55101
		Attn: Carrie Marsh, Bridges Program

XII.	Signatures
If there is more than one of any of the following entities served by this application, please submit additional copies of this page with additional signatures. Signatures may also be on multiple pages, e.g., not all signatures are required to be on a single page.  
 
A.	Local Mental Health Entity	
My organization has contributed to and reviewed this application for Bridges funding and will provide resources to enact the responsibilities described in the Cooperative Agreement. 	
Agency Name	     	
Print Authorized Person(s) Name	     	
Title	     	
Authorized Signature	     	
Date	     	

B.	Continuum of Care	
I have discussed the Bridges program with the Housing Agency and plan to collaborate in order to provide referrals for households claiming a preference based on experiencing homelessness. 	
Continuum of Care Name	     	
Print Authorized Person(s) Name	     	
Title	     	
Authorized Signature	     	
Date	     	

C.	Housing Agency(s) Board Chair or Authorized Person	
I approve this application for Bridges funding and will provide resources to enact the responsibilities described in the Cooperative Agreement and the Bridges Program Guide.	
Agency Name	     	
Print Authorized Person(s) Name	     	
Title	     	
Authorized Signature	     	
Date