RFP – Supportive Housing Referral Program

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through 24 CFR 982.207 authorizes Public Housing Authorities to establish local preferences for selection of families admitted to the Housing Choice Voucher program. Preferences must be based on local housing needs and priorities. The Bellingham Housing Authority acknowledges the community would benefit from additional opportunities for service enriched housing that offer long-term rental assistance. Applicants referred through the local preference program are eligible for placement on the voucher waiting list even if it is otherwise closed, and they will generally be placed at the top of the waiting list thereby expediting the selection process.

The purpose of this RFP is to solicit proposals from qualified agencies interested in accessing tenant-based Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) and providing ongoing supportive services to program participants. The objective of the program is to offer individuals and families an opportunity for permanent affordable housing and provide supportive services that will enable them to stabilize their living conditions and remain successfully housed.

Agreements resulting from this RFP will be for an initial one (1) year period with two (2) one-year options to renew at the sole discretion of Bellingham Housing Authority (BHA). It is estimated that the total number of vouchers available for the program will be 60 (5 released per month) and the evaluation criteria for ranking proposals places emphasis on collaboration between housing, supportive services, and educational institutions (i.e., public schools, community colleges, etc.).

All supportive service agencies operating in Whatcom County are invited to submit a written proposal outlining the organization’s qualifications, capacity, and willingness to provide ongoing supportive services. A more detailed explanation of the Scope of Work to be addressed in the proposal is set forth in Exhibit A of this RFP.

This RFP is to provide access to rental assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher program and does not provide physical housing options or funding for supportive services.

This RFP is being issued as an expansion of BHA’s current local preference program and is specifically targeted toward organizations who operate time-limited subsidy programs within Whatcom County. BHA is expanding its current local preference program to specifically address the identified need for long-term rental assistance among Whatcom County participants in short/medium-term subsidy programs. Short/medium-term subsidy programs are defined as programs operated by public, private, or non-profit organizations who provide time-limited rental assistance for permanent housing in combination with support services (e.g. rapid re-housing). The duration of rental assistance must be time-limited based on Federal, State, or Local regulations.

Proposals that do not meet the intent and target of this RFP as stated above will not be reviewed.

Individuals and families referred for HCVs in connection with Agreements resulting from this RFP must meet the following criteria:

  1. Currently reside in Whatcom County; and
  2. Currently be assisted through a short/medium-term subsidy program that will end within one hundred eighty (180) days based on regulatory time limits; and
  3. Are in compliance with all current program requirements including but not limited to active engagement with supportive services; and
  4. Without long-term rental assistance the applicant would likely return to homelessness because they lack adequate resources to maintain housing.

Please see the full Request For Proposal below for all details and deadlines.

RFP - Referral Vouchers Expansion 2023

Commissioner Candidate Search

 

Candidate Sought for the Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham Board of Commissioners

The City of Bellingham Housing Authority (BHA) is currently seeking one new commissioner for the Board of Commissioners. The vacancy can be either an at-large or resident (client) position.

The combined Boards of the City of Bellingham Housing Authority and the Whatcom County Housing Authority consists of five members, one of which is a resident position.  Of these, three members are named by the City of Bellingham Mayor.  The Commissioners are the governing bodies for both housing authorities and are responsible for approving decisions that chart the direction of current and future programs, and authorize the actions of the Executive Director and his designees.

Regular Board meetings are held the third Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m.  Commissioners serve five-year terms and receive no financial compensation for their service on the Board.

To be eligible for appointment, candidates must be residents of the City of Bellingham and be at least 18 years old.  In addition to these requirements, it is highly desirable that candidates possess one or more of the following qualifications:

  1. Commitment to BHA’s mission to offer opportunities for people to thrive by ensuring access to quality, affordable homes;
  2. Familiarity with the needs, conditions, and services available to lower income residents of Bellingham;
  3. Experience developing, implementing, and monitoring public policy;
  4. Knowledge and expertise concerning the successful administration of mid to large business, non-profit, or governmental entities and have served in a management position within such an entity;
  5. Knowledge and expertise concerning community development programs and issues;
  6. Knowledge and expertise concerning affordable housing programs and issues.

To be considered for appointment by the Mayor, please send a letter of interest and resume to:

Executive Services Manager
208 Unity Street
Bellingham, WA 98225

or by email at hr@bellinghamhousing.org.

An application must also be submitted through the City website at https://www.cob.org/gov/public/bc/Pages/Boards-and-Commissions-Application-Process.aspx

Your letter of interest should address:

  • Your desire and willingness to serve on the Bellingham Housing Authority Board of Commissioners and indicating the strengths that you would bring to the Housing Authority’s Board;
  • A brief record of your personal history and experience which highlights any of the above listed qualifications possessed.

Please also include with your submittal:

  • Proof of City of Bellingham residency (Provide 2 of the following: a copy of your driver’s license; voter registration card; utility bill; rent receipt; or verifiable lease agreement.)
  • The names, addresses, and phone numbers of three professional references.

This information can be mailed, e-mailed, faxed or hand delivered to:

Bellingham & Whatcom County Housing Authorities
208 Unity Street
Bellingham, WA 98225

Fax: 360-676-7747

hr@bellinghamhousing.org

An application shall have been deemed to have been transmitted by the prescribed deadline if all required information has been delivered by fax, e-mail, or by hand to the Bellingham Housing Authority or deposited in the United States mail, as registered or certified mail, by 5:00 p.m., April 7, 2023.

Once the deadline for submissions has passed, the Board will review all applications.  Applicants will be notified concerning the status of their applications and subsequent steps in the Board’s recruitment effort. After clearing the initial evaluation phase, candidates should be prepared to answer the following questions:

  1. Have you had a civil judgment levied against you in the past five years?
  2. Have you been convicted of a criminal violation?
  3. Are you currently involved in either civil or criminal litigation?
  4. Have you been disbarred from practicing law or had your license to practice a profession suspended or revoked?
  5. Are you current on your taxes and other regulatory filings?
  6. Is there anything that the Board should know about you that has the potential for causing embarrassment to the citizens of the City of Bellingham if you were selected to serve on the Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners?
  7. If you answered “Yes” to questions 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6, please explain why you should be considered for appointment to the City of Bellingham Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners.

Applicants must be prepared to provide verification of all information included in their application materials.

No Open Items

There are no items currently open for Public Comment. If you wish to provide public comment to the Board of Commissioners meeting, please do so by clicking here and emailing your comment prior to the meeting.

Board of Commissioners Special Meeting

DATE: December 1, 2022

CONTACT:
Brien Thane
Executive Director

Lindsay Burmeister
HR / Executive Services Manager
(360) 715-7330

 

***MEDIA ALERT***

SUBJECT: BOARD OF COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETINGS NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that three (3) or more Commissioners of the Bellingham Whatcom County Housing Authority may attend the Bellingham Housing Authority and Whatcom County Housing Authority Special Board of Commission Meetings held December 13 starting at 1 PM.

Our December 20th regular Board of Commission Meetings have been cancelled.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC – PLEASE NOTE:
Please follow the below call-in procedure and note that members of the public can conference into the meeting but will be in listen-only mode.

The Bellingham Whatcom County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners will meet electronically on Tuesday, December 13, 2022. Board Members and the public can attend this meeting via zoom or in person at the Mt Baker Theatre Encore room located at 102 W. Champion St. at this time.

Those who wish to provide public comment may send direct e-mail to publiccomment@bellinghamhousing.org and must be submitted no later than 5pm on the day prior to the meeting.

Meeting Information

Webinar ID: 868 2734 6793

Click Here to Join on Computer, Tablet, or Smart Phone
(data rates may apply)

To Join via Phone:
(phone service provider rates may apply)
(253) 215-8782 (Tacoma); (206) 337-9723 (Seattle)
(669) 900-6833 (Portland); (971) 247-1195 (Phoenix); (346) 248-7799 (San Jose)

Waitlist Opening

Project Based Voucher City - Elderly

The Bellingham Housing Authority will open the following waiting list to new pre-applications for targeted households on

November 16th, 2022 at 10am

To qualify the Head of Household must be 62 years of age or older

Pre-applications must be submitted online by clicking the apply button below and will only be accepted for households who meet occupancy standards for the unit size specified above.

The Bellingham Housing Authority’s office is open by appointment only. For assistance, please email or call Tyson Stap.

Board of Commissioners Special Meeting Notice

DATE: June 22, 2022

CONTACT:
Brien Thane
Executive Director

Lindsay Burmeister
HR/Executive Services Manager
(360) 715-7386

 

***MEDIA ALERT***

SUBJECT: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that three (3) or more Commissioners of the Bellingham Whatcom County Housing Authority may attend a Special Board of Commission Meeting held June 23rd at 1 PM.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC – PLEASE NOTE:

The general public are asked to attend our June 23rd Special Board of Commissioners Meeting over the phone.

Please follow the below call-in procedure and note that members of the public can conference into the meeting but will be in listen-only mode.

 

Meeting Information

Webinar ID: 868 2734 6793

Click Here to Join on Computer, Tablet, or Smart Phone
(data rates may apply)

To Join via Phone:
(phone service provider rates may apply)
(253) 215-8782 (Tacoma); (206) 337-9723 (Seattle)
(669) 900-6833 (Portland); (971) 247-1195 (Phoenix); (346) 248-7799 (San Jose)

2022.06.23 WCHA Agenda Packet - Special Meeting

2022.06.23 BHA Agenda Packet - Special Meeting