Clearwater ARPA Social Services Funding

Overview

Pinellas Community Foundation (PCF) and the City of Clearwater are collaborating to select a primary relocation provider to aid current residents of the Capri Mobile Home Park in Clearwater in finding housing due to the Park’s imminent closure in March 2023. Up to $250,000 is available for one agency to administer. This opportunity utilizes funding provided to the City of Clearwater through the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Project Background

Capri Mobile Home Park is located at 24195 US-19 N in Clearwater. The Park will permanently close in mid-March, 2023. The City of Clearwater has identified Capri as an urgent ARPA funding priority.

Approximately 80-90 households will be displaced by the Park’s closure. Most residents only speak Spanish. Relocation services are needed to help these residents find and move to stable housing.

As of January 12, PCF has gathered the following additional information about the Capri Mobile Home Park that may help inform your applications:

• March 12 is the updated park closure date (versus March 14)
• About 89 households. No census information beyond that.
  • Of 89 households, 47 attended a community resource event in November
• PCF has the names and phone numbers of all residents.
• PCF is not yet sure how many households have secured housing – at least 13
• The Florida Mobile Home Relocation Corporation is connected to residents, and may be able to help connect them with some state funding.
• The developer has not been involved in rehousing, and to the knowledge of PCF, the developer will not be contributing financially to the effort.
• Lot fees are an average of $840/month.
• Most residents own their mobile homes.
• Residents can use their title, sale contract, bill of sale, or letter from the park manager to prove residence in the park.
• The Park is giving mobile homeowners $1500-1600.

Eligibility

In order to apply to provide relocation services, your organization must:

• Be a 501c3 public charity and have had such status for at least one year at the time of application
• Be able to offer services in both English and Spanish
• Be able to provide relocation services on-site at the Capri Mobile Home Park
• Have a demonstrated history of providing emergency social services (relocation support, case management, and system navigation) support to individuals living in Pinellas County, preferably to Clearwater residents specifically. This experience should include familiarity with crisis management, case navigation, and local and state social service programs.
• Not be prohibited from contracting with the City of Clearwater

501c3 public charities whose sole function is grantmaking or fundraising for another entity (including government agencies) are not eligible to apply.

Award Amount

Up to $250,000 is available for one provider to administer. It is up to the applicant provider to submit a budget describing how these funds would be utilized to aid in relocation efforts. It is expected most of the funding will be used for direct relocation costs (security deposits, moving and transportation costs, etc.)

Funding Process and Timeline

1. Interested applicants must submit a detailed Letter of Intent through the PCF grant portal by January 18, 2023. This will require submission of a project plan, budget, and organizational financials.
2. Submitted LOIs will be screened by a team of PCF staff members. LOIs must successfully demonstrate the organization’s history and capacity for providing emergency relocation assistance. Qualifying organizations will be invited by email to participate in a live interview in lieu of an electronic full proposal. Those not chosen to move forward will also be notified.
3. An external committee will review the LOIs submitted by finalists in advance of the live interview.
4. The committee-led live interview will take place the morning of January 30, 2023 at East Community Library in Clearwater. While physical presence is required, your organization may seek a reasonable accommodation as needed for a virtual option.
5. The committee will deliberate and select a provider directly after the live interviews conclude.

Below is the planned timeline for this process.

Letter of Intent Period: December 22, 2022 – January 18, 2023
PCF and Committee Review: January 18 – 23
Live Interview by Committee: January 30
Contracting: February
Grant Period: February to March

Grant Payment and Reporting

Upon committee recommendation, PCF will execute a contract with the selected provider to begin relocation services.

Grants made through this process may be on a cost-reimbursement basis. PCF will have some flexibility in advancing payment for a portion of the grant award.

Programmatic reporting will be required on a biweekly basis, and financial expenditure reporting will be required monthly through the duration of the grant. All reporting will take place through the same portal used to apply.

Information Access

Electronic submissions were accepted through the PCF grant potal from December 22, 2022 to January 18, 2023.

Committee Meeting

The committee meeting to review requested applications and determine the best provider took place on January 30, 2023. A recording and meeting minutes are below.