Day One Grant (Bezos Day One Funds)

Day One Grant Overview

Program Goal: One-time, non-federal funding opportunity to work towards ending family homelessness through a pilot program.

Geographic Scope: Wisconsin Balance of State Continuum of Care service area

Target Population:

• Families experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness
• Family defined as: at least one child under 18, plus one or more individuals living together (not required to be related by blood, marriage, or legal capacity)
• Focus on families about to enter emergency shelter or already in shelter 1 week or less

Focus Areas:

• Diversion staff and funds administration
• Reduction in unsheltered homelessness among families
• Reduction in length of time from identification to housed
• Reduction in families experiencing first-time homelessness
• Increase in homeownership among families exiting homelessness
• Reduction in returns to Coordinated Entry
• Increase of exits to permanent housing within 2 weeks of shelter stay

Eligible Project Types:

• Section A: Diversion staff and funds administration
• Section B: Data points targeting including system improvement projects, data acquisition/monitoring, partnership integration with non-housing systems (Child Welfare, healthcare, TANF, Foodshare, K-12 education, post-secondary), pilot flexible housing subsidy, toolkit development, diversion assessment tools

Eligible Costs for Diversion Funds:

• Payment to family member or friend for allowing person to stay
• Hotel payments
• Court fees to stave off eviction
• Security deposit and first month's rent
• Mediation services
• Transportation to safe place to stay
• Car payments, tow lot fees, other payments for housing-related costs
• Administration capped at 10% of total costs

Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicant must be member of local coalition within WIBOSCOC
• Eligible applicant types: non-profit, for-profit, housing authorities, city/county government, Community Action Programs (CAP)
• Lead agency must be in good standing with WIBOSCOC and member of local homeless coalition
• If applicant received Bezos Day 1 funds in last 5 years, not eligible
• No match requirement

Required Qualifications:

• Staff member administering diversion funds must have previous experience working with families experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness
• Staff must complete required trainings and continue ongoing professional development

Required Training:

• Diversion course with National Alliance to End Homelessness
• Core Certification (formerly AIRS certification) - bonus
• Participation in WIBOSCOC Conference
• Continuing education through HUD Exchange

Requirements:

• Must comply with Housing First philosophy and low-barrier entry
• Must participate in Coordinated Entry (pre-screen, assessment, referral, follow-up)
• Must comply with Balance of State CoC bylaws, governance charter, and policies
• Committee participation required
• Active involvement in Point-in-Time count (twice yearly)
• Active involvement in local coalition
• Attendance at quarterly Balance of State meetings
• Must maintain good standing with BoS CoC policies
• Must enter data into HMIS
• Must submit monthly reports on relevant data points
• Regular meetings with WIBOSCOC staff
• Program start date no later than June 1, 2024
• Annual progress review with right of non-renewal with 60 days notice
• Recipients expected to present findings and achievements at future events

Equity/Civil Rights Requirements:

• Applicants must identify steps to ensure meaningful participation by traditionally underserved populations (Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian American, Pacific Islander, persons of color, religious minorities, LGBTQ+, rural residents, persons with disabilities, persons affected by persistent poverty)
• Communications must be accessible for persons with hearing, visual, and other communication-related disabilities (Section 504 Rehabilitation Act, ADA)
• Reasonable steps required for meaningful access by Limited English Proficiency (LEP) persons (Title VI Civil Rights Act 1964)

Application Process

Application Materials Required:

• Day One New Project Application (PDF file)
• All required attachments
• Information from Section A and Section B
• Scoring tool available for reference

Submission Instructions:

1. Complete application addressing both Section A and Section B
2. Write application based on guiding principles:
   • Working towards zero unsheltered families within service area
   • Reduction in families needing shelter
   • Reduction in length of time from point of entry into shelter to exit to permanent housing
3. Submit application and attachments as PDF file

Previous Deadline: March 15, 2024 (PAST - program cycle appears concluded)

Review Process:

• Applications reviewed by CoC Director in consultation with select Board members and CoC staff
• Scoring rubric provided with application
• Highest scoring project(s) selected
• Final decision made no later than March 28, 2024 (PAST)

Support Provided:

• Wisconsin Balance of State staff support recipient at onset and throughout program administration

Q&A Sessions (Historical - 2024):

• 2/2/24 at 10am (virtual)
• 2/5/24 at 1pm (virtual)
• Recording and PowerPoint slides available on website