Specifications include, but are not limited to: 1. Kick-off Upon selection, the consultant will collaborate closely with the Housing Initiative Director, responsible for overseeing project management activities. A Project Advisory Committee, comprised of volunteers from the Planning, Housing, and Inclusion & Belonging Commissions, along with relevant staff and community members, will be formed. The Project Advisory Committee will be capped at 10 volunteers, and they will meet at least 4 times during the project period at specific milestones to provide input. A kick-off meeting will mark the initiation of collaborative efforts, setting the foundation for project milestones. 2. Review of Existing Materials and Literature The project scope shall include time for the selected consultant to review, analyze, and understand the City’s existing data from previous housing assessments equity audits, and other city-wide reports and assessments that have revealed housing inequities in Winooski. There is a fair amount of data currently available, which should be understood before engaging with residents who contributed to many of these reports. This project will allocate dedicated time for an exhaustive literature review, encompassing not only the City's historical data but also relevant policies and initiatives from other municipalities in Vermont and across the nation. 3. Community Engagement Plan Development Following the literature review, the Project Advisory Committee, guided by the consultant, will develop a community engagement plan. This plan will be shaped through collaboration with community partners engaged in equity work, ensuring feasibility and relevance to Winooski residents. Critical to the success of this project is the incorporation of the lived experiences of under-served and under-represented populations within the community. Recognizing the value of diverse perspectives, the project will implement community engagement practices that go beyond conventional methods. Incorporating the perspective of property owners and landlords is necessary to understand some of the common housing barriers Winooski has. In addition to this, particular effort needs to be made to ensure that community engagement fatigue is minimized by having a solid understanding of the data that has already been collected in the City. The Project Advisory Committee will assist the consultant in identifying community partners for targeted engagement but will not be responsible for the outreach and engagement of these partners. 4. Community Engagement Implementation The consultant will take the lead in executing the community engagement plan, adhering to the outlined requirements in this RFP. Stakeholder interviews and focus groups will be conducted, prioritizing marginalized populations, and ensuring their voices are integral to the assessment process. Other activities may include public engagement meetings, surveys, interviews with City employees including department heads, public meetings with the Inclusion & Belonging Commission and Housing Commission, and opportunities for public feedback at interim progress reports to City Council. This approach aligns with Winooski's commitment to and practice of adopting best practices in community engagement. 5. Targeted Outreach to Under-represented Populations Specialized outreach efforts will be made to under-represented populations, including New American communities, BIPOC residents, seniors, disabled residents, LGBTQ+ community members, community youth, and low-income residents. Focus group participants from traditionally marginalized groups will receive a $50 stipend to ensure equitable access to this feedback component. The stiped monies are to be paid by the City, through the MPG award. Translation and interpreter service needs and costs have been accounted for when preparing the budget for this project.
