Irving staff recommends funding three nonprofits in $230,000 homeless-prevention program

City staff presented recommendations to the Irving City Council on March 12 to allocate $230,000 from the Homeless Prevention Program to three nonprofit providers after receiving seven applications requesting roughly $867,000.

Imelda Speck, housing and redevelopment staff, said the city used a 100-point scoring framework to rank proposals and found a clear break among the top three. Under staff's merit-based, proportional allocation model, Family Gateway would receive the full $75,000 it requested; Catholic Charities would receive just over $82,000; and Irving Cares would receive about $72,790. Speck said the model ensures no organization receives more than it requested and distributes available funds relative to each proposal's score.

Speck told the council the program funds services for households at risk of homelessness, including food assistance, financial empowerment, workforce development, senior programs and referrals for mental-health services. The RFP required applicants to demonstrate at least two years of experience, 501(c)(3) status and capacity to manage the program and its reporting requirements. Speck said staff reviewed proposals in February and will return with agreements if the council approves the recommendations, targeting an April 16 agreement approval and service start in the second quarter.

Council members questioned program design and oversight. One council member asked whether the awards would be paid by reimbursement; Speck said the program provides funding up front in two payments (50% within 30 days and the remainder after six months) and that grantees will submit monthly reports showing households served and expenditures. Another member asked whether the recommended nonprofits provide the wraparound services the city prioritizes; staff noted Family Gateway operates a 24/7 crisis hotline and assessment/diversion teams, Catholic Charities runs monthly food distribution plus training and diversion housing, and Irving Cares offers local in-person services near downtown.

Kyle Taylor, an ICANN executive-committee member who attended the meeting, said ICANN and partner agencies are building unified data collection and diversion programs intended to reduce reliance on extended-stay motels and improve access to services such as childcare and medical referrals. Taylor cited early program outcomes including 150 FoodRx referrals in three months and diversion successes but acknowledged more time and data are needed to evaluate long-term impact.

Speck said staff will perform a six-month check-in to verify expenditures and outcomes. Council members also encouraged staff and partners to pursue additional public and private matching funds and to consider adding veteran- and faith-based providers in future cycles. The council did not take a final vote at the March 12 session; staff requested feedback and said they would bring formal agreements back for approval.