By Tashi McQueenAFRO Political Writertmcqueen@afro.com
Baltimore Metropolis officers are on the lookout for candidates who assist and are prepared to supervise town’s imaginative and prescient for his or her newly acquired resorts. Metropolis officers goal to show the 2 Downtown Baltimore resorts, Vacation Inn Categorical and the Sleep Inn and Suites, into everlasting supportive housing for these experiencing homelessness.
The Metropolis of Baltimore acquired the 2 properties and the adjoining car parking zone in February for $15.2 million, utilizing federal funds via the American Rescue Plan Act. The Vacation Inn Categorical is situated at 221 N. Homosexual St. and the Sleep Inn and Suites on 301 Fallsway.
“After I have a look at these resorts behind us and beside me that have been as soon as the Vacation Inn Categorical and the Sleep Inn and Suites, I see an vital funding within the individuals of our metropolis. Tackling homelessness will not be a one-size-fits-all strategy,” mentioned Baltimore Metropolis Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) on the unveiling of the 2 resorts on July 1. “It requires individualized and modern responses to each side of the system and each issue that may lead an individual to homelessness. These resorts present us extra capability and one other software within the toolbox to proceed that work.”
The resorts are at present getting used as non permanent housing for these experiencing homelessness within the metropolis, which Ernestina Simmons, director of the Mayor’s Workplace of Homeless Companies (MOHS), confirmed will proceed as they undergo their request for proposals (RFP) course of.
Simmons mentioned 378 households have been served at these two areas, together with 136 adults over the age of fifty and 40 youngsters (zero to 17).
“While you have a look at why everlasting supportive housing, consider each developer and nonprofit group that wishes to face behind this work,” mentioned Simmons. “You might be assembly individuals the place they’re, you’re seeing them as they have to be seen and also you’re saying ‘housing isn’t going to be your problem in the present day.’”
A number of days after Scott and different metropolis and nationwide officers unveiled the 2 properties, the MOHS launched their RFP.
In response to MOHS, they’re looking for proposals from non-profit, for-profit and joint ventures that plan to rehabilitate and run everlasting supportive housing inside the two properties. Additionally they need the proposals to include diversified affordability ranges of not more than 60 p.c of space median revenue and a 55-year affordability covenant.
MOHS expects no less than 100 items to be made accessible between the 2 buildings in addition to onsite providers starting from psychological well being assist to case administration providers.
For these concerned about submitting a proposal, the deadline is August 16 at 3 p.m.
MOHS may even host an optionally available digital bidder’s convention on July 15 at 3 p.m. to assist these candidates who may have technical help. Registration is necessary to attend the convention. Go to homeless.baltimorecity.gov to register.
