Notification of Upcoming Market Sounding for Sustaining Tenancies in Social Housing

⁠⁠⁠This notification is being issued to announce the commencement of the commissioning of the NSW Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) Sustaining Tenancies in Social Housing (STSH) program.

FACS aims to enable vulnerable people to participate fully in NSW’s social and economic life. People experiencing homelessness and those at risk of homelessness are priority client groups for FACS.

A high proportion of social housing tenants have an increased risk of falling into homelessness if they lose their tenancies. The evidence highlights that intervention strategies can work effectively if wrap-around support and brokerage is available early enough for at risk tenancies - both for new tenancies where tenants face significant barriers to independently managing their tenancy agreement and existing tenancies where risk factors have escalated.

The Sustaining Tenancies in Social Housing (STSH) program is an initiative under the NSW Homelessness Strategy 2018-2023. STSH aims to -
* sustain existing tenancies, and reduce breaches and evictions in social housing, and
* prevent homelessness for those at imminent risk of losing their tenancy.

The program will deliver tenancy support through local strategies that deliver intensive person-centred support and case management, and address a range of complex needs such as mental health and alcohol and other drug issues.

STSH will commence in two districts, working in conjunction with the FACS Housing Tenancy Management Pilot, which aims to better identify at risk tenancies and coordinate referrals to local support networks. The two sites are
* South West Sydney District focused on Macquarie Fields
* Murrumbidgee District focused on the Murray region.

Market Sounding Process

To ensure the best outcomes are achieved for clients, FACS will undertake a market sounding in each of the identified locations with interested providers, with a view to refining the draft specification for the program.

Following the market sounding, prospective applicants will have ten (10) days to complete a Registration of Interest (ROI) form for the Select Tender stage. This will occur through the NSW Governments e-Tender website. The select tender will only be open to those providers who have attended a market sounding.

Provider capabilities

FACS is seeking providers with demonstrated expertise to deliver client-centred, trauma-informed case management services and outreach support to social housing tenants whose tenancies are at risk due to a range of issues that may include anti-social behaviour, arrears and property care issues and may have a range of complex needs that may include mental health issues, substance use, disability, financial and debt issues.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service provision

To assure effective service delivery in Aboriginal communities, FACS is interested in provider capability to support and deliver culturally informed and appropriate client services. Service providers will have relevant employment and training policies in place as well as identifiable partnerships that support their cultural competence.

Furthermore, the involvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Organisations either as lead or partner, is highly desirable for any tender bid for this program. This applies in both Districts.

Timeframes

A market sounding will be held in each of the two locations identified for the program.
* Murrumbidgee - 3rd October, 2018 at 1pm
* Venue: Commercial Club, 618 Dean St, Albury
* South West Sydney - 4th October, 2018 at 1pm
* Venue: Liverpool Catholic Club, 424-458 Hoxton Park Road, Prestons

Following the market sounding, it is envisaged that the select tender stage will commence in late October 2018 with new STSH contracts commencing in early 2019.

Next steps

Prospective applicants are invited to RSVP their attendance at the market sounding by sending their details to the Project Team at SustainingTenanciesinSocialHousing@facs.nsw.gov.au by COB Friday 28 September

Providers are advised that a maximum of two representatives will be allowed from each agency. It is recommended that providers consider representation by operational and practitioner staff as the market sounding will be interactive and will further inform the program’s final specification for the select tender stage.

Following their RSVP, each provider will be sent a copy of the market sounding discussion paper for consideration before the meeting.

Attendance at the market sounding will be mandatory for inclusion in the select tender stage.