REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

FY2026-27 DCF Funding Opportunities

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), CHALLENGE Grant, and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)

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Letters of Intent and the Funding Application will be submitted via the BBCoC Grant Portal

Download the official RFP here

The Big Bend Continuum of Care (BBCoC) is pleased to announce the availability of funding through the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) to support services for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. This Request for Proposals (RFP) invites qualified nonprofit organizations and public agencies to apply for funding through the following sources:
 
·         Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
·         Challenge Grant
·         Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
 
Eligible applicants must deliver services in the BBCoC service area, which includes the following counties: Leon, Gadsden, Wakulla, Franklin, Liberty, Jefferson, Madison, and Taylor.
 
A total of $943,113.93 in reimbursable grant funding is available for organizations to apply for during program year July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027. Applicants may submit one proposal per organization, with the option to request funding from multiple sources. Some individual criteria such as budgets and scopes of services must be clearly defined for each funding source.
 
Below is a breakdown of the amount of funding available for each service category/activity: Please visit the DCF Program Guide for additional information on program eligibility and program components.
A. Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)

Allowable components include Emergency Shelter, Street Outreach, Rapid Rehousing and Prevention.

The ESG program provides funding to:

  1. engage individuals and families living on the street through case management and referral services
  2. improve the number and quality of emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families and help operate these shelters by providing essential services including case management to shelter residents
  3. rapidly re-house homeless individuals and families through financial assistance and housing stability case management
  4. prevent families/individuals from becoming homeless through financial assistance and case management
  • Street Outreach: Must serve 2 individuals per month
    Amount Available: $33,514.54
  • Emergency Shelter: Must serve 3 individuals per month
    Amount Available: $60,000.00
  • Rapid Rehousing: Must serve 1 individual per month
    Amount Available: $60,000.00
  • Homelessness Prevention: Must serve 2 individuals per month
    Amount Available: $60,000.00
 $213,514.54

available to subrecipients

100% match required
B. Challenge Grant

Challenge Grant funding shall be used locally to assist those individuals or households who are homeless, or those at risk of becoming homeless. The funds may be used to assist those clients defined as homeless in section 420.621(5), Florida Statutes. The intent of the grant is to help implement the local homeless assistance plan, and to help the community reach the goals and objectives outlined in their CoC plan.

Challenge grant allowable activities include housing and program projects.

  1. Housing Projects
    1. Rental Assistance
    2. Hotel/Motel Vouchers
    3. Emergency Shelter Operations
    4. Case Management
  2. Program Projects
    1. Covers operational and logistical needs of an innovative homeless service program such as coordinated entry and street outreach
    2. Case Management
  3. Service Activities
    1. Housing Stability Case Management
    2. Street Outreach
    3. Transportation Assistance
    4. Direct Client Assistance (no rental assistance)
  • Housing Projects: Must serve 8 individuals per month
    Amount Available: $440,000.00
  • Program Projects: Must serve 8 individuals per month
    Amount Available: $144,012.53
  • Service Projects: Must serve 10 individuals per month
    Amount Available: $114,012.53
 $698,025.06

available to subrecipients
C. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Prevention

The purpose of the Homelessness Prevention Grant Program is to assist eligible families to prevent the family from becoming homeless and to maintain stable housing following the assistance from the grant.

The Homelessness Prevention Grant may be used to pay the following costs to assist eligible families avoid homelessness:

  1. Past due rent payments, not to exceed four (4) months of rent payment.
  2. Past due utility bills, not to exceed four (4) months in arrears for electric, gas, water and sewer only.
  3. Staff and operating costs for the provision of the required case management services to be provided to the eligible families assisted.
  4. Households served must be under 200% of the poverty level as identified by HUD.
  • Homelessness Prevention: Must serve 1 individual/1 household per month
    Amount Available: $20,000.00
  • Case Management: Must serve 1 individual/1 household per month
    Amount Available: $11,574.33
 $31,574.33

available to subrecipients
A.    ELIGIBILITY
 
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants must be either:
  • A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in good standing; or
  • A unit of local government.
All nonprofit applicants must be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM) and have a publicly searchable profile. Applicants unable to complete SAM registration before the deadline must provide evidence of initiation via email to info@bigbendcoc.org. Award decisions will be contingent upon full SAM registration.
 
Minimum Qualifications
 
Applicants must:
  • Submit a complete application by the deadline.
  • Abide by all mandatory requirements as indicated in this RFP.
  • Demonstrate fiscal capacity to manage multiple contracts and funding streams.
  • Maintain liquid cash reserves to support at least two months of project operating costs as all grants are reimbursable.

File Library

2026 DCF Funding RFP

DCF Funding Guidance FY26-27

Keep an eye on this page, as we will continually update throughout the RFP cycle.