How to Apply for a Grant

from the

Community Shelter Board

 

The Community Shelter Board has three funding goals:

1.       To provide annual operating support to shelters for homeless persons within the City of Columbus and Franklin County.  The purpose is to assure that homeless persons have access to safe, decent shelter and receive services that assist them in securing housing.

 

2.       To provide annual operating support to programs that provide housing services to homeless persons, and persons who are at risk of becoming homeless within the City of Columbus and Franklin County.  The purpose is to assure that homeless persons have access to the resources and assistance necessary to secure and maintain housing, including prevention services that preclude households from becoming homeless to begin with.

 

3.       To provide annual supportive service and operating support to permanent supportive housing projects for formerly homeless individuals within the City of Columbus and Franklin County.  The purpose is to assure that chronically homeless individuals have access to safe, affordable, and permanent housing  and services that provide a means to end their homelessness under the Rebuilding Lives plan.

 

When to Apply

Funding from the Community Shelter Board (CSB) is provided on a July 1 funding cycle.  Applications are due in March.  The exact due date and application materials can be found on CSB’s web site at www.csb.org under the Agency Resources link in the section called RFP Application.

 

How to Apply

Preference will be given to applications submitted by non-profit agencies that currently receive funding from the Community Shelter Board. 

 

Applications from new agencies, that is agencies that do not hold a current contract with CSB, will be accepted only if the following criteria are met:

 

• The agency must be a registered non-profit
• The agency must operate within Franklin County
• The agency must be able to submit all required information at the time the application is due

 

Additionally, new applicants should carefully review CSB’s Administrative and Program Standards.  These can be found on-line at http://www.csb.org/ under the Agency Resources link.  All funded agencies are expected to comply with all of the standards that apply to the area under which each program is funded.  All funded programs must achieve certification based on a site visit from the CSB Review Team in order to continue to be eligible for funding.

 

All applicants should access application materials at www.csb.org under the Agency Resources link in the section called RFP Application.  If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive the annual public funding announcement, contact Chris Kloss at cfkloss@csb.org or (614) 221-9195.  Any questions about the application should be directed to Michael Madry at mmadry@csb.org  or (614) 221-9195.

 

 

 

Funding Categories:

 

1)                 Prevention

The goal of Prevention is to provide services and financial assistance, when warranted, to individuals and families who are in imminent risk of becoming homeless and lack the resources to maintain their housing.  Its primary purpose is to prevent entry into shelter by diverting households to housing options other than shelter.  The program should successfully reduce the number of entrants into shelter thereby reducing the number of emergency shelter beds needed.  This is accomplished by providing at-risk families and individuals with services that stabilize housing, prevent entry into the shelter system and help them maintain housing.

 

2)                 Shelter/Housing Services

The goal of Shelter/Housing Services is to provide basic emergency shelter and essential supportive services that assist homeless individuals and families in quickly exiting the shelter system.  This is achieved by providing housing counseling, referrals for financial assistance, referrals for supportive services, linkages to neighborhood resources, post-placement and follow-up services to keep households from re-entering the shelter system.

 

Also funded as part of this category are:

 

Outreach – The purpose is to provide housing assistance, case management, service linkage and other services to individuals who are living on the street.  Outreach programs should successfully assist individuals in moving from outdoors and into appropriate next step housing.

 

Resource Specialists – The goal of Resource Specialists is to provide homeless persons with access to information and resources that help them obtain jobs and/or gain access to community resources with an outcome to secure housing.

 

Direct Housing – The purpose of Direct Housing is to move families out of the YWCA IHN as quickly as possible and into permanent housing.  After housing has been secured, supportive services staff work with families on a short-term basis to establish community linkages and other neighborhood supports that will help them to maintain their housing.

 

Other Supportive Services – this includes other services that assist homeless persons residing in shelter to obtain housing.

 

3)                 Permanent Supportive Housing

The goal of permanent supportive housing is to provide long-term homeless individuals who face complex challenges, access to affordable housing with voluntary services that will help them maintain their housing on a permanent basis and live more stable, productive lives.  Permanent supportive housing, over time, should reduce the number of homeless individuals on the street and reduce the number of emergency shelter beds needed.  This is accomplished by providing housing that is permanent and economical to develop and operate, and services that are voluntary and accessible.

 

 

 

 

4)                 New Permanent Supportive Housing

Agencies interested in creating a new permanent supportive housing project must work with the Rebuilding Lives Funder Collaborative to secure approval on the project design and development throughout the entire process of development.   For information regarding RLFC guidelines and application materials for a new permanent supportive housing project contact the Michael Madry, CSB's Grants Administrator, at 221-9195 or mmadry@csb.org.  The Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) is a national organization with a local field office located in Columbus, Ohio.  CSH provides information and technical assistance to agencies interested in developing the capacity to develop and administer supportive housing projects.  For information about CSH and its services, contact Sally Luken, Director, at (614) 228-6263 Ext. 222.