The County of Rockland Department of Community Development is considering the issuance of a Sole Source award to Rockland Housing Action Coalition, Inc. for the provision of housing counseling services to residents of Rockland County. Funding amount is contingent on the adoption of the County of Rockland Annual Budget. As such, the final funding amount may differ from the estimated amount provided in this notice.
This award may be made on a sole source basis in accordance with the Rockland County Procurement Policy.
Term: January 1, 2022- December 31, 2022
This program will provide housing counselors to work individually with each client to develop a plan with short- and long-term achievement goals. The services to be provided include budget, credit, homebuyer, savings, landlord-tenant, housing searches, predatory lending, homeownership, financial literacy and fair housing.
The contract fills a need to:
- Provide housing counseling, including credit, budget, homeownership, landlord-tenant, predatory lending and foreclosure prevention counseling.
- Provide services to 126 individuals with housing counseling
- Housing counselors will review financial information to determine annual household income.
- Track the progress of each individual and make adjustments to the action plan when necessary.
- Work with homebuyers to create realistic monthly household budgets, resolve credit issues and obtain low interest mortgages and grants from lenders for closing costs.
- Work with low-income renters to help them find affordable rental units, complete paperwork needed to qualify for subsidized rental apartments and resolve credit issues.
- Submit quarterly reports to the Rockland County Department of Community Development.
Program Goals and Services include but not limited to:
- Continue providing foreclosure prevention to assist Rockland homeowners remain in their homes
- Counseling Services include:
- Credit issues
- Development of realistic household budgets
- Construct and manage affordable low/moderate income rental and sale housing at various locations throughout Rockland County –Rockland County Comprehensive Plan:
- Expand housing opportunities for Rockland County’s diverse population
- Promote high-quality residential communities with a range of appropriate densities
- Provide sufficient and affordable housing stock for the aging and young adult populations, caregiver work force and emergency service volunteers
Target Population:
- Unduplicated number to be serviced in 2022 -350
- Demographic breakdown (age, gender, and location) 21-85 years old, approximately 55% female and 45% male.
- Outreach/recruitment process
- Recruit cliental served from lenders HUD, NYS Realtors Association, community groups and county agencies
- Comply with subsidized housing development and assist with income eligibility requirements governed by Section 42 of the IRS Code and HUD.
Demonstrated Successful Experience providing the above services to eligible individuals and families.
This notice is issued for informational purposes only and is NOT a request for competitive quotes.
Any non-profit agency that believes they are qualified to provide the services detailed above and is ready, willing and able to provide the services; shall respond to this notice no later than 3 PM on April 21, 2022 (14 days after advertisement) of this announcement. The response should provide specific details regarding the agency’s interest in providing such services as well as their prior experience in providing the same or similar services. In addition, the response should detail the agency’s connections to the Rockland County community.
Responses to this notice must be sent via facsimile to 845-364-3809 or email to purchasing@co.rockland.ny.us. NO PHONE CALLS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Organizations submitting an expression of interest must meet the following requirements:
- Be a HUD approved housing counseling agency
- Must be located in Rockland County and have established services locations throughout the County
- Own and manage affordable housing developments within Rockland County
- Be a 501 (c)3
- Be governed by a Board of Directors
- Be up-to-date with all IRS filings
- Be up-to-date with all NYS filings
- Have a 2022 budget with Board approval
- Be fiscally sound
- Have a Non-discrimination Policy
- Have a Conflict of Interest Policy
- Maintain program records for the purpose of an audit and provide to the County all program-related information including proprietary materials, upon request
- Submit quarterly, year-end, and any other reports as required by the Department of Community Development
- Be available for announced on-site visits
A determination by the County not to compete the proposed contract is solely within the discretion of the County.