City of Spokane COVID-19 Emergency Housing and Utility Assistance (Fiscal Sponsorship)

City of Spokane COVID-19 Emergency Housing and Utility Assistance

Funder: City of Spokane (via Better Health Together as fiscal sponsor)

Geographic Scope: Spokane, Washington

Background:
In January 2021, BHT staff participated in stakeholder meeting with City of Spokane CHHS subcommittee regarding challenges BIPOC community members face accessing housing assistance. Community partners expressed that existing City RFPs have high liability requirements and reimbursement-only structures, making them inaccessible to smaller community-based nonprofits with meaningful relationships to most-impacted communities.

A solution emerged: identify an organization to take on fiscal risk while passing dollars to BIPOC-led organizations. The BHT Board identified BHT as having capacity for this role. In February 2021, the BHT Board allocated staff time to support this proposal.

Purpose:
BHT to serve as fiscal sponsor for BIPOC-led and serving organizations to offer direct rental and utility assistance to community members they serve. This model:

• Reduces barriers for smaller, BIPOC-led nonprofits
• Leverages trusted community messenger relationships
• Models more intentional RFP development by City of Spokane
• Promotes accessible collaboration between City and grassroots/BIPOC-led service organizations

Target Population:

• BIPOC community members at risk of homelessness due to COVID-19
• Communities most oppressed and impacted by COVID-19

What BHT Will Do (If Selected):

1. Convene participatory budgeting session with BIPOC-led organizations working in COVID response to determine priorities and fund allocation
2. Support staffing, outreach, and engagement from participating organizations
3. Provide direct financial housing/utility assistance to those in need
4. Hold fiscal responsibility for dollars and ensure compliance with reporting/eligibility standards
5. Manage back-office finance operations (check writing, reimbursement requests from City) without fees or costs to partners
6. Distribute 100% of funds to organizations serving BIPOC clients in need of housing/utility assistance

Governance:
If accepted, BHT intends to work with community partners giving input on fund design, structure, and governance.

Application Process

For interested partner organizations seeking to receive funds through BHT's fiscal sponsorship:

Required Materials:

• Project Application
• Applicant Risk Assessment
• Budget Worksheet
• Supporting Documents

Process:

1. Submit application materials to BHT
2. BHT will review and coordinate with City of Spokane
3. If BHT's proposal is accepted, organizations participate in participatory budgeting session to determine fund priorities and allocation
4. Funding distributed based on organizational capacity to serve BIPOC community members

Note: This is a fiscal sponsorship model where partner organizations receive funds for direct assistance while BHT handles administrative and reporting requirements.