REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE PROVISION OF AN EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND RELATED HOUSING SERVICES

ISSUE DATE: July 14, 2025

DUE DATE: July 24, 2025 at 4:00 pm

Issued By: Leonard G. Townes Commissioner Westchester County Department of Social Services 112 East Post Road White Plains, New York 10601

The County of Westchester (the “County”), acting by and through its Department of Social Services (the “Department” or “WCDSS”), is requesting proposals from qualified vendors for services to provide an Emergency Housing Assistance Program (“EHAP”), consisting of the provision and operation of six (6) two-bedroom Emergency Housing Units (“EHUs”) and the provision of related housing services (the “Housing Services”), for the ‘RISE’ Program (as defined below), to customers deemed eligible for temporary housing assistance by WCDSS. Copies of this request for proposals (“RFP”) may be downloaded from the County’s website for RFPs: http://rfp.westchestergov.com/rfp/rfps.jsp or under “RISE Emergency Housing Assistance Program”

Westchester Continuum of Care & Greater Mental Health of New York Presents: Cultural Competency: Words Matter!

Destigmatizing Mental Health, Substance Use, Trauma and Disabilities Through Language

Join us for an interactive, 90-minute training designed for providers in Westchester County who want to foster inclusive, trauma-informed care.

This session will explore how the language we use impacts stigma, engagement, and trust in healthcare and other social work/human services.

Participants will learn practical strategies and try hands-on exercises to replace stigmatizing terms with respectful, person-centered alternatives.

Together, we can build a culture where all individuals feel seen, valued and safe.

Registration is mandatory. Please click on the button below to register.

Date: July 23rd 2025

Time: 1:00pm-2:30pm

2025 Summer EBT Program

Summer EBT is a food benefit program that helps low-income families with school-age children buy groceries during the summer when kids might not have access to school meals.

Starting June 2, 2025, eligibility letters for Summer EBT 2025 will begin to be mailed and will continue throughout the summer. Most eligible children will automatically receive Summer EBT food benefits, however, some families may need to apply.

The Summer EBT benefit will only be issued once, in the full amount of $120 for each eligible child. Benefits are loaded onto an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card and can be used anywhere SNAP/EBT benefits are accepted.

Funding Opportunity Alert: Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative - Round Nine

Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) Inter-Agency Service and Operating Funding Opportunity Request for Proposals

The State Fiscal Year 2025-26 Enacted Budget continues funding to advance Governor Hochul’s comprehensive plan for affordable and supportive housing to ensure New Yorkers have access to safe and secure housing. The State has committed this funding in order to create or preserve affordable and supportive housing units.

New York will invest a portion of these resources to specifically address vulnerable populations experiencing homelessness. To ensure the maximum benefit of this investment, the State will utilize the existing federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care (CoC) model that engages localities and not-for-profit (NFP) providers in developing and implementing data-driven strategies to address homelessness in specific populations such as victims or survivors of domestic violence, runaway and homeless youth and formerly incarcerated individuals (see Section 1.4 for full list of eligible target populations).

The State intends to develop a total of 20,000 units over a period of 15 years. As such, the State is issuing this Request for Proposals (RFP) to advance the goal of developing 1,400 units of supportive housing annually for persons identified as homeless with special needs, conditions, or other life challenges.

Calling All Westchester Housing Providers, Case Managers and Direct Support Staff

Please join us to learn more about resources that can assist individuals impacted by a disability and how we can help remove barriers!

Guest Speakers:

  • Maylin Baucage (Housing Program Coordinator)

  • Linda Hicks (Service Coordinator)

  • Gloria Wiggs (Transition Specialist)

  • Wendy Martinez (Program Coordinator)

When: June 18th 2025 at 1:00pm-2:30pm

Where: Remote via Webex.

*Webex Link will be sent prior to the event*

Westchester County Continuum of Care Partnership to End Homelessness presents: Child Care for Families in Need

Calling all Shelter Staff, Social Case Workers, and Direct Service Staff!

Please join us for an informative session about Early Head Start and Head Start child care.

Special guests Urban Strategies and Family Services of Westchester and will present on how their child care programs can help support the families you are servicing.

Date: Thursday May 29th, 2025 

Time: 10:00am-11:30am

Where: Remote via WebEx

Registration is required!

Child Care Alert: Family Services of Westchester's Head Start Program

Head Start is more than a preschool program. It supports parents and families in their vital roles as the primary influencers on their young children’s education and development by helping them sharpen their parenting skills and navigate the school system.

In addition to providing a comprehensive top-quality preschool education, Head Start also provides health and nutrition education to its students and their families.

Head Start emphasizes cognitive and language development, social and emotional development, physical and mental health and parent involvement. Participating Head Start families establish a “medical home” where children receive ongoing routine health and dental care.

In addition, parents have access to support programs that help the family move toward economic self-sufficiency.

Westchester County Continuum of Care Partnership to End Homelessness and the Lived Experience Advisory Group Presents: JumpStart for Dads


Calling all Dads, Expectant Dads, Providers, Case Workers and Direct Service Staff!

Please join us for an informative session about the JumpStart for Dads Program.

Dr. Vito Sessa and Ervan Caesar will present on: 

The JumpStart for Dads Program and how it can empower fathers with the skills to be THE BEST DADS THEY CAN BE!

Sessions are free and can be held in English and Spanish

Date: June 4th, 2025  

Time: 11:00 AM -12:00 PM

Where: Remote via Webex

Westchester Residential Opportunities - May 7th, May 12th and May 18th Events!

Please join Westchester Residential Opportunities for an exciting opportunity to learn more about:

  1. Preventing Foreclosure and Property Tax Arrear Assistance

a.    When: May 14th 2024 at 1:00pm-2:30pm

b.   Where: Zoom

2. Navigating Rental Challenges and Eviction Prevention

a.    When: May 12th 2025 at 12:00pm

b.   Where: Zoom

3. Financial Literacy Seminar

a.    When: May 7th 2025 at 5:00pm

b.   Where: Zoom

*Please note that registration is required for all of these seminars. Please see the QR code (or link) on flyer to register.*

 

RFP for Emergency Storage Services for Homeless Customers of the Westchester County Department of Social Services

The County of Westchester (the “County”), by and through its Department of Social Services (the “Department” or “WCDSS”), is requesting proposals from qualified entities to provide EMERGENCY STORAGE SERVICES FOR HOMELESS CUSTOMERS OF THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.

Copies of this Request for Proposals (“RFP”) may be downloaded from the County’s website for RFP’ under “EMERGENCY STORAGE SERVICES FOR HOMELESS CUSTOMERS OF THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES”.

The Westchester Geriatric Mental Health Collaborative

Effectively engaging older adults in Mental Health Services: Challenges and Opportunities

  • Learn engagement strategies tailored to older adult populations.

  • Explore key barriers older adults face in accessing mental health care.

  • Hear from panelists with experience in geriatric care.

    When: May 9th 2025 at 2:00pm-4:00pm

    Where: St Vincent’s Hospital Westchester; 275 North Street, Harrison NY 10528

Request for Quotations: Grant Writing

The Westchester County Department of Social Services is requesting quotations from organizations or individuals to work with the Office of Temporary Housing Assistance providing grant writing services and/or other special projects in order to enable the Department to apply to state or federal funding opportunities.

These services may include coordinating necessary planning with local service providers and/or participating jurisdictions, researching needed data, collecting documents, preparing application materials, arranging appropriate application review and signatures, and duplicating, assembling, and sending the applications.

Project-Based Voucher and Public Housing Waiting List is Open for Multiple Senior and Family Sites

The Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers (MHACY) announces that the Family/Senior waiting list for the Project-Based Voucher (PBV) and Public housing sites listed below will open for pre‑application on Thursday, March 27, 2025 (9:00 AM ET), and close on Friday, March 28, 2025 (11:59 PM ET).

All pre-applications must be submitted electronically on mhacy.org.

Affordable Housing Opportunity Alert

Valley Cottage Apartments

Address: 123 Valley Road, Town of Bedford, Westchester County, NY

Valley Cottage Apartments consists of 12 one-bedroom apartments in four buildings located in the hamlet of Katonah in the Town of Bedford in Northern Westchester County, New York. Valley Cottage Apartments is within walking distance to the Metro North Train Station (Harlem line) and downtown Katonah with its retail stores and restaurants. It is served by the Katonah-Lewisboro School System. It is also serviced by Bee Line Bus #19 with stops between the Katonah train station and the Ossining train station including stops through Mt. Kisco with its shopping and employment center. 

Westchester County Continuum of Care Partnership to End Homelessness and Westchester County Dept. of Community Mental Health Presents: Navigating Services for Clients with Developmental Disabilities

Please join us for an informative session about the New State Office for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Eligibility Process.

Michelle Armisto and Mathew Faulkner, WCDCMH will present on:

-NYS OPWDD eligibility and how eligibility is determined.

-NYS OPWDD Services and Supports available after eligibility is determined.

Date: April 16th 2025  

Time: 2:00pm-3:30pm

Where: Remote via Webex

Registration is required.  



Joint Office of the Governor and Office of the New York State Attorney General Guidance to Private and Non-Profit Organizations and Entities

This guidance document is intended to provide information to private and nonprofit entities like social services agencies and providers (including homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, and other residential facilities as well as nonresidential and drop-in sites for social services); houses of worship such as churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples; medical and healthcare facilities; and other entities that provide community services and spaces, in evaluating how to respond to requests from federal immigration authorities while protecting the rights of their residents, clients, patients, members, and staff.

This brief guidance has been prepared following a sharp increase in the number of questions and requests our offices have received following the Department of Homeland Security directive rescinding prior guidance protecting “sensitive places” from federal civil immigration enforcement activity. The purpose of this guidance is to prepare and educate organizations and institutions so they can focus on the people and communities they serve, their mission, and their essential work.

Online Access to Section 8 and Project Based (PBV) Housing Waiting Lists in Westchester County, NY

Access online Section 8 and Project Based (PBV) Housing Waiting Lists in Westchester County, NY through NYS Housing Trust Fund Corporation beginning 2/18/2025.

Existing applicants for CVR’s wait lists can now update their address, household composition, income, and other information using the online portal. New applicants may apply for rental assistance for any open wait lists. Below is a list of the current status of CVR’s PBV site-based wait lists: