Human Centered Design Consultant

Human Centered Design Consultant
RFP Posting Date: September 14
Submission Deadline: October 9
Interviews (by invitation only): October 19-30
Estimated Award Date Decision/Notification: November 6
Estimated Dates for Work: November 2026 – July 2027; estimated dates are contingent on fundraising so please ensure the budget estimate is valid through July 2028.

RFP Background
The homeless response system in America is undergoing substantial changes due to changing priorities at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the major Federal funder of homeless services. As the Chicago homeless response system reacts to these shifts and seeks to mitigate immediate harm, we also want to capitalize on this moment to make transformative change by redesigning the system from a person-centered perspective. Previous efforts to redesign the system have been shaped by the experience of system leaders and service providers. With this effort, we aim to understand in what ways the system is hard to navigate, from the experiences of people who have tried, to identify better and new ways to transform.

This may include street outreach and engagement, homelessness prevention, diversion, emergency shelter (including congregate, non-congregate, and weather-related shelter response), interim and bridge housing, coordinated entry, housing assessment and prioritization, rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, permanent housing placement, housing stabilization and retention services, landlord engagement, housing navigation, case management, flexible financial assistance, and street outreach.

The scope may also include the broader network of services that influence an individual's ability to access and maintain housing, including behavioral health services, substance use support services, physical health care, crisis response, public benefits screening and enrollment, employment and workforce development, education and training, legal services, domestic violence services, youth-serving programs, veteran services, family and child welfare services, services for older adults, immigration-related supports, disability services, transportation assistance, and food assistance.

RFP Purpose
All Chicago Making Homelessness History (All Chicago) is seeking a human centered design consultant to guide the redesign of the Chicago homeless response system.

We intend to complete a system mapping exercise to inform the identification of 3-5 actionable items that can be completed to improve the homeless response system.

What’s Important to Us
We seek to build a homeless response system that is person-centered and focused on the experiences and expertise of people seeking services. We want a trauma-informed system that recognizes and seeks to mitigate the harm done by systems through opaque processes, confusing and limiting eligibility criteria, and insufficient services. We want a system that improves outcomes for people and addresses inconsistencies of experience, rather than perpetuating differences. We want a system that is sufficient to help all of the people in need. We want a system that is easy to navigate and works for people with the greatest need and who are most impacted by housing insecurity.

Consultant Deliverables
At the end of the engagement, the consultant will have:

Developed and implemented a system mapping process to document peoples’ experiences accessing or failing to access services from the homeless response system
- This will include refining the definition of what the homeless response system includes, as well as determining how many peoples’ experiences need to be understood to inform improvement planning
Provided an implementation plan for using the system mapping information to garner broader feedback and thought partnership on possible opportunities for improvement
Copresented with All Chicago and the other partners about the work to build community engagement and buy-in, including the development of relevant presentations and one-pagers
Developed and managed a workplan that is updated throughout the engagement with key dates, timelines and deliverables for the consultant work; this includes a final updated workplan for work that should continue after the consulting engagement has ended
Provided all meeting notes from engagement processes and meetings to All Chicago
Provided documentation that serves as the final product for and property of All Chicago, which should include both narratives and visuals

Who Can Apply

Any non-profit or for-profit organization is eligible to submit a proposal to this RFP. Collaborative proposals in which two or more organizations partner together to submit one proposal are permitted.

Suggested Process & Timeline
All Chicago will enter into an agreement with one applicant to perform the activities outlined in the RFP. The selected consultant will work closely with a group of approximately 15 people from All Chicago, Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness, Corporation for Supportive Housing, Illinois Public Health Institute, and a group of grass roots leaders to carry out the work. We anticipate at least 3 phases of the work, which would include:

Preparation and Design: In collaboration with the groups named above, design the system mapping process.
Complete system mapping: Facilitate sessions with people who have attempted to access the homeless response system to map gaps and fail points.
Implementation Support: Assist with carrying out a broad communication and community engagement plan.

We will work collaboratively with the selected applicant to provide relevant materials to ensure the applicant can be grounded in the existing homeless response system. We want to be both planful while retaining urgency, with the goal that this work take no more than 12 months.

Cost Estimate
Proposers should provide a realistic cost estimate for carrying out a planning process that successfully results in the development of the system map. The final budget will be negotiated before a final award is made. Proposers must use the budget template provided along with this RFP.

The budget information submitted in this RFP will be used by All Chicago to secure philanthropic support for this project, so please ensure that the cost estimate will be valid for at least 12 months from the date of submission.

Applicant Qualifications
To accomplish the scope requested, the consultant should possess the following qualifications:

Demonstrated expertise and experience in human centered design
Demonstrated experience working with and/or incorporating the input of people with lived experience of homeless and/or poverty
Experience partnering with systems to identify and implement improvements; knowledge of homelessness preferred but not required
Expertise in interview and survey design
Excellent facilitation skills, including the ability to present information clearly, prevent and resolve conflicts, and build consensus.
Experience at creating a neutral environment for, and soliciting input from, individuals from various sectors and with different formal education backgrounds
Experience at creating processes that are not extractive but rather are collaborative and valued by the participating groups/people
Preference given to organizations with experience working in Chicago and/or Illinois

References & Previous Work Product
Applicants must provide 3 references of individuals that can speak to their experience with the consultant in conducting projects of similar scope. The proposal should include at least two examples of deliverables similar to the scope of work requested within this RFP.

Selection Process
All proposals will be reviewed by All Chicago, Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness, Corporation for Supportive Housing, Illinois Public Health Institute, and the group of grass roots leaders. Proposals will be evaluated based on the responses within this survey.

RFP Point of Contact:
Beth Horwitz
Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives
All Chicago, Making Homelessness History
bhorwitz@allchicago.og

Proposals must be submitted electronically using this form. Please complete and submit all responses directly within the survey.

1. Organization Name *This question is required.

2. Contact Person Name *This question is required.

3. Contact Person Title *This question is required.

4. Contact Person Phone *This question is required.

5. Contact Person Email *This question is required.

6. Organization Address *This question is required.

7.

Approach and Workplan:

Please describe how you would approach this work:

*This question is required.

8.

Please describe how your organization determines what projects to take on:

*This question is required.

9.

Please describe what has been important for having a strong working relationship:

*This question is required.

10.

Please describe what materials and background information you will need to understand in order to embark on this work:

*This question is required.

11. Agency Experience and Capacity

Provide a brief overview of your organization, including all leaders who will be working on this project:

*This question is required.

12.

Please describe your experience using human centered design to reshape systems, including the processes you have found to be effective and your approach/philosophy:

*This question is required.

13.

Please describe two examples of similar work you have done. Please include the name of the community, the start and end date of the work, and one challenge you encountered and how it was overcome:

*This question is required.

14. Commitment to Ensure Stakeholder Voices Are Heard and Represented

Please describe your experience collaborating with people who have experienced adversity, such as individuals who have experienced homelessness:

*This question is required.

15.

Please describe how you approach projects like this to ensure they are additive and not extractive, particularly as experienced by people whose stories are being shared:

*This question is required.

16.

Please describe how you approach engaging stakeholders who may be experiencing fatigue and burnout:

*This question is required.

17.

Please upload a proposed budget for the scope of work.

*This question is required.

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18.

Please attach three references.

*This question is required.

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19.

Possible Component of Work
We are interested in understanding the role you think would be appropriate for your firm to have in synthesizing the collected information and making recommendations. Please provide 2 examples of relevant experience doing this and a budget for your involvement in this aspect of the work.

*This question is required.

20.

Please attach two work products from similar engagements to this RFP.

*This question is required.

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21.

Please upload a budget for the possible additional work for the synthesizing of the information.

*This question is required.

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Next Steps
As part of the selection process, those reviewing the applications may choose to schedule virtual presentations with a subset of applicants before making their selection. As of the release date of this RFP, the selection committee hopes to schedule these during the week of October 19th-30th, 2026 and will reach out to schedule the meeting upon initial review of the responses.

This RFP does not constitute an offer by All Chicago. No binding contract, obligation to negotiate, or any other obligation shall be created by All Chicago unless All Chicago and the applicant execute a Contract.

Human Centered Design Consultant

All Chicago, Making Homelessness History Request for Proposals: Human Centered Design Consultant