The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) is seeking proposals from not-for-profit organizations with experience in operating a licensed, mental health housing program, to develop and operate a 15-unit Short-Term Transitional Residence for adults with serious mental illness who need additional support to strengthen the skills needed to move to a more independent housing setting.

OMH intends to award one program to be located in New York County in the redevelopment of 550 West 20 ^th Street, New York, NY (“the site”). NYS Urban Development Corporation d/b/a Empire State Development (ESD) is reviewing proposals from a RFP for the purchase and adaptive reuse of the former Bayview Correctional Facility, which includes an 8 story building on a .4 acre site. The ESD proposals are required to develop affordable and supportive housing as well as setting aside and creating a condo ranging in size between 5,000 to 6,000 SF of white box space for the development of this 15-bed short term transitional residence. The condo will be sold to the recipient of this RFP for Fair Market Value and funded as part of the OMH capital project.

The Short-Term Transitional Residences are intended to provide a home-like environment. The program will offer supports and skills training in a comfortable, safe, and recovery-oriented environment. Private bedrooms are ideal but no more than two people may share a room. Ample kitchen, dining and living space must be provided in order to facilitate skill building, group activities, and recreational opportunities.

Individuals who are admitted to this program should be connected to community supports to facilitate the transition back to the community and a more independent housing setting. These supports may include a Safe Options Support (SOS) Team, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team, Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) Team, Intensive Mobile Treatment (IMT) Team, Critical Time Intervention (CTI) Team, or Specialty Mental Health Care Management (SMH CM). An individual may be admitted to the transitional residence without an established connection to one of the teams noted above, but as part of the intake process, regardless of pre-admission setting, the individual should be linked to one of these specialized teams for support. The Teams will work closely with the transitional housing residences to ensure that individuals are able to move to a more independent housing setting within 120 days or less.

Although this is an unlicensed program model, the design is expected to provide adequate living and program space for individuals and staff without overcrowding. In addition, the residence will be required to be handicapped accessible, and have fire safety protection. The specific requirements will be shared with the agencies selected to develop the transitional residences.

Both capital funding for the development of this project and operating funding will be available to the selected applicant. Capital project costs will be developed by the selected applicant and the OMH Bureau of Housing Development and Support after analysis of the project. The issuance of a capital contract and operating contract will be subject to the approval of the Division of Budget (DOB) and Office of the State Comptroller (OSC).

The full RFP can be found at: https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/rfp/

All applicants must be Prequalified by the due date/time of the RFP.

All applications/proposals must be submitted through the Statewide Financial System.