EOH Winter Response 2026-2027

Program Summary and Key Details: The Rhode Island Executive Office of Housing (EOH) is administering a program to provide grant funding for new or expanded Seasonal Emergency Shelter (defined below) and other Flexible Winter Response Projects (defined below) to help strengthen Rhode Island's homelessness response system during the colder months and help more households transition into permanent housing. Municipalities, faith leaders, and service providers are strongly encouraged to apply. Eligible uses of this funding include, but are not limited to: emergency shelter services; case management and/or housing stability services; transportation for individuals seeking winter response services; day programs, professional development, education services for sheltered individuals; behavioral health services and substance use disorder services; meal programs; outreach services; coordination of available resources; and emergency warming/cooling center costs. EOH strongly encourages providers to think about innovative ways to run the most effective projects possible, including partnering with other agencies, utilizing/braiding other funding sources, leveraging mainstream resources, and/or other approaches that strengthen the homeless response system overall. Seasonal Emergency Shelter: Awards will be made for supporting new or expanded Seasonal Emergency Shelters that will operate from November 1, 2026-April 30, 2027. The purpose of Seasonal Emergency Shelter is to protect individuals experiencing homelessness from the dangers of cold weather, especially during the winter months when exposure to the elements can be life-threatening. Seasonal Emergency Shelters should also serve as a gateway to longer-term housing solutions, when possible, by providing other services like case management, connections to behavioral health services and substance use disorder services, meals, and other services offered at Year-Round Emergency Shelters. Flexible Winter Response Projects: For projects that do not fit the definition of Seasonal Emergency Shelter, or if Emergency Shelters, do not plan to be open consistently from November 1, 2026-April 30, 2027, awards will be made for Flexible Winter Response Projects. These Projects should seek to protect unsheltered individuals during cold weather months by aiming to meet people where they are, reduce harm, and connect them to ongoing supports. These flexible responses can complement full-time shelter and help communities reduce winter mortality, support dignity and survival, and connect individuals to longer-term housing. Note: EOH's goal is to provide the additional support our homeless neighbors may need during the winter months while preventing duplication of funding. Programs currently funded by the Consolidated Homeless Fund (CHF) are not eligible for increased funding for services already funded. However, if the already funded project is seeking to expand their scope of work for the winter months only, that expansion will be considered for this solicitation. Application Process: All applications for funds under this solicitation must be submitted through Rhode Island's Grant Management System (Euna). You can access more information about the Winter Response RFP by visiting this EOH Apply for Funds & Grants. A complete application will consist of the following items found within the Euna Application Portal: Organization profile; Agency Capacity and Certification Form; 2026-2027 Winter Response application; Budget (part of the '26-'27 Winter Response application); Authorized official form For more information on creating an account in Euna and other useful resources for subrecipients please click on this link: Grants Management Resources. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis beginning on August 14, 2026, and until funds are fully obligated or until December 31, 2026, whichever is earlier. EOH may require the submission of additional information from applicants in connection with any application or the revision of an application, may consider additional information about the proposed project for projects funded through the Consolidated Homelessness Fund, and may permit the resubmission of an application rejected as being incomplete or deficient. RFP Terms and Conditions: This RFP is issued subject to the following terms and conditions:
• This RFP is a request for proposals but is not itself an offer and shall under no circumstances be construed as an offer.
• EOH expressly reserves the right to modify or withdraw this request at any time, whether before or after any qualifications have been submitted or received.
• EOH reserves the right to ask questions or require follow-up information of any applicant prior to funding decisions.
• EOH reserves the right to reject and not consider any or all respondents that do not meet the requirements of this RFP, including but not limited to incomplete qualifications and/or qualifications offering alternate or non-requested services.
• EOH reserves the right to consider or grant partial funding.
• EOH reserves the right to reject any or all companies, to waive any informality in the RFP process, or to terminate the RFP process at any time, if deemed to be in its best interest.
• In the event the party selected does not enter into the required agreement to carry out the purposes described in this request, EOH may, in addition to any other rights or remedies available at law or in equity, commence negotiations with another person or entity.
• In no event shall any obligations of any kind be enforceable against EOH unless and until a written agreement is entered.
• The applicant agrees to bear all costs and expenses of its response and there shall be no reimbursement for any costs and expenses relating to the preparation of responses of qualifications submitted hereunder or for any costs or expenses incurred during negotiations.
• By submitting a response to this request, the applicant waives all rights to protest or seek any remedies whatsoever regarding any aspect of this request, the selection of another respondent or respondents with whom to negotiate, the rejection of any or all offers to negotiate, or a decision to terminate negotiations.
• EOH reserves the right not to award a contract pursuant to the RFP.
• All items become the property of EOH upon submission and will not be returned to the applicant.
• EOH reserves the right to split the award between multiple applicants and make the award on a category-by-category basis and/or remove categories from the award. Categories may include, for example, funding source, geography served, population served and/or project type.
• EOH reserves the right to revise budgets submitted with proposals to create more cost-efficient projects and/or amend applicable expenses.
• The applicant certifies that neither it nor its principals, contractors, or agents are presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from utilizing federal funds by any federal or state department or agency.