NYC Seeks Vendors for Asylum Seeker Shelter Services, Aims for Cost Savings

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking companies and organizations to provide shelter and related services for the ongoing asylum seeker crisis. 

The RFP marks the next phase of the “Asylee Flex” program, which aims to ensure continuity of operations while finding additional cost efficiencies and diversifying vendors through a competitive bidding process.

The city has already saved nearly $2 billion in asylum seeker spending by helping migrants become self-sufficient through intensified case management and reducing the per-diem costs of providing care. 

Since April 2022, over 200,000 migrants and asylum seekers have arrived in the city, seeking a better life and requiring assistance.

“We’ve put care and compassion first throughout our response, and, as a result, no families with children have been forced to sleep on our streets — an incredible accomplishment,” said Mayor Adams, praising the efforts of public servants, contractors, and community organizations managing the crisis.

The RFP requires potential vendors to submit executive summaries, detailed plans, references, and budget proposals, including pricing information for staff, shelter locations, and operations. 

It also includes a 30% minority- and women-owned business enterprise subcontractor utilization goal.

Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack emphasized that the RFP would “bolster the Asylee Flex” program, delivering compassionate care cost-effectively and ensuring fiscal responsibility. She said, “This initiative will enable us to meet the evolving needs of the thousands of people in our care while optimizing resources to deliver essential support to those seeking refuge in our city.”

Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom noted the ongoing efforts to streamline and sustain the city’s humanitarian response. 

“All along the way, we have tried to find efficiencies and move toward a response that is more sustainable. This RFP will allow us to take a wider look at providers in this space and continue to evaluate how we are allocating resources to find additional cost savings and process improvements,” she said.

Since its inception in May 2023, the “Asylee Flex” program has expanded rapidly, now supporting thousands of migrants across 26 hotel sites in the city and upstate areas.

The program provides comprehensive services, including education and local resource connections, particularly for families with children.

Potential vendors responding to the RFP must submit extensive documentation, including executive summaries, action plans, references, and budget details.